Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have pushed deeper into the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), capturing the town of Walikale despite growing international calls for a ceasefire.
The rebels entered the mining hub in North Kivu province on Wednesday, a day after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for an immediate ceasefire after meeting in Qatar’s capital Doha.
Nestor Mavudisa, a spokesperson for the Congolese army (FARDC), confirmed on Thursday that “the enemy” now controlled Walikale, located about 400km (250 miles) from Kisangani, the country’s fourth-largest city.
Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes M23, dismissed the calls from the leaders of DRC and Rwanda for a ceasefire.
“We are Congolese who are fighting for a cause,” he told the Reuters news agency. “What happened in Doha, as long as we don’t know the details, and as long as it doesn’t solve our problems, we’ll say it doesn’t concern us.”
An officer in the Congolese military told the AFP news agency that forces had “retreated to avoid human losses”.
Fiston Misona, a civil society activist in Walikale, told the Reuters news agency: “The rebels are now visible in the centre of the city. There are at least seven people wounded who are at the general hospital.”
Thousands flee
The seizure of Walikale marks the farthest west that M23 has advanced into the DRC’s interior since it first emerged in 2012.
The town of about 15,000 people sits about 125km (78 miles) northwest of eastern DRC’s largest city, Goma, which the M23 rebels seized in January.
Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani, reporting from Goma, said residents of Walikale confirmed the presence of M23 in the town.
“Thousands of people are already on the road, as a majority of people are trying to take the road towards the neighbouring province of Kisangani, where they can seek shelter,” Uaykani said.
Earlier this month, M23 captured Nyabiondo city, 110km (68 miles) northwest of Goma, after days of fierce fighting with government forces and pro-government groups. In February, it captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
The offensive had already caused the mining group Alphamin earlier this month to evacuate its employees and halt operations at its Bisie mine for the tin ore cassiterite, the world’s third largest, in the Walikale district. The region is also home to several gold mines.
Neighbouring countries and foreign powers have been stepping up diplomatic efforts to halt what has quickly become eastern DRC’s worst conflict since a 1998-2003 war that drew in multiple neighbouring countries.
The United Nations says Rwanda has supported M23 by providing arms and sending troops – an accusation Kigali denies.
The DRC and M23 had been expected to have their first direct talks on Tuesday in Angola. However, M23 pulled out of the talks on Monday, blaming European Union sanctions against some of its leaders and Rwandan officials.
The conflict has forced tens of thousands of people to flee to surrounding territories and neighbouring countries, according to the UN.
