The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured the key town of Masisi in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, raising alarms over an escalating humanitarian crisis, local officials said.
Masisi, a major administrative and economic hub in North Kivu province with an estimated population of 40,000, fell under rebel control after heavy fighting. The town is located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the provincial capital, Goma, and is rich in agriculture, livestock, and mineral resources.
The March 23 Movement (M23), an armed militia supported by Rwanda, has expanded its territorial control in eastern DRC since 2021, displacing thousands of civilians and triggering widespread insecurity. Angola-mediated peace talks between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame were abruptly halted in December due to disagreements over the terms of a proposed deal.
Alexis Bahunga, a North Kivu lawmaker, expressed dismay at the capture of Masisi. “The seizure of Masisi center by the M23 is deeply troubling,” Bahunga told AFP. He called on the Congolese government to strengthen the logistical and operational capacity of its military forces, the FARDC, to address the growing crisis.
The fall of Masisi adds to the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Congo, with thousands already displaced by M23’s ongoing campaign. Bahunga warned, “The capture of the town plunges the territory into a serious humanitarian crisis,” urging immediate action to alleviate the suffering of affected communities.
The United Nations and other international organizations have highlighted the need for urgent aid to the region, where prolonged conflict has compounded existing challenges of poverty and displacement.
The M23 rebellion, which began in 2012, was named after a failed peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009, between the Congolese government and former Tutsi rebels. Although officially defeated in 2013, the group resurged in 2021, claiming the DRC government had failed to honor past agreements.
The conflict has further strained relations between Rwanda and the DRC, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of supporting the rebels—a claim Rwanda denies.
