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A view shows the remains of a vehicle hit by heavy and light weapons before Goma fell to M23 rebels, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) [Photo: Reuters]
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The M23 armed group continues to push deeper into the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mineral-rich eastern region, capturing key cities Goma and Bukavu—capitals of North and South Kivu provinces, respectively—in recent weeks.
Security sources have told Al Jazeera that the Rwanda-backed rebels have now entered Nyabiondo village, approximately 100km (62 miles) north of Goma, positioning themselves on the road leading to the strategic town of Walikale in North Kivu.
“Walikale is very important for the government as it is the only place where the government has an industrial mine from which they receive millions in tax revenue,” said Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from Goma.
Government Forces Suffer Defections
In a major blow to the Congolese army (FARDC), one of its allied armed groups, the Group Kabido, announced that it has joined M23. The group, which has been active in eastern DRC for decades, had been fighting alongside government forces for the past three years.
“This shows the disorganization within the DRC army, and M23 is taking advantage of the situation on the ground,” Uaykani added, revealing that another group had defected soon after.
UN warns of rising civilian casualties and displacement
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised alarm over increasing attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, forcing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Between March 1 and 3, several hospitals were targeted by armed actors in what OCHA described as an escalation of violence against medical centres and health personnel.
Security in Goma remains volatile, with a resurgence of crime, including burglaries, theft, and violent attacks, the agency reported. In Masisi district, clashes between M23 and rival armed groups between February 18 and 25 resulted in the deaths of at least four civilians and the displacement of over 100,000 people in Lubero, further north.
$5M reward for capture of M23 leaders
Amid mounting pressure, DRC authorities have announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of top M23 leaders, as government forces struggle to halt the rebel advance.
“A reward of five million dollars is offered to anyone who helps arrest the convicts Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, and Sultani Makenga,” the Ministry of Justice stated on Friday.
All three men were tried in absentia and sentenced to death in August 2024. The DRC government has also placed a $4 million bounty on information leading to the capture of their accomplices and other wanted individuals.
M23’s growing influence in Eastern DRC
Since January 2025, over 7,000 people have been killed in the escalating violence in eastern DRC, with a significant number of civilian casualties reported. The M23—one of more than 200 armed groups operating in eastern DRC—reemerged in 2021 after nearly a decade of dormancy, seizing large parts of North Kivu, which borders Rwanda.
In recent weeks, the rebels have launched a rapid offensive, capturing Goma and Bukavu. A UN panel of experts and the United States have accused Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali has repeatedly denied. With the conflict showing no signs of abating, concerns grow over further territorial gains by M23 and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
Source: Aljazeera
