The M23 rebels seized another town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Wednesday, breaking the truce they declared Monday.
Despite a unilateral ceasefire they announced Monday for a safe passage of humanitarian aid, the M23 rebels continued fighting the DRC army the following days.
The DRC government, described the rebel's ceasefire as “false communication," the United Nations has noted reports of heavy fighting with Congolese forces in the mineral-rich region.
According to civil society officials and residents, the rebels have controlled a city 60 miles (96 kilometers) from the provincial capital of Bukavu.
ABC News, mentioning UN sources, said that the M23 rebels are backed by some 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, That’s far more than in 2012, when they briefly captured Goma then withdrew after international pressure.
The M23 are the most potent of the more than 100 armed groups active in Congo’s east, which holds vast deposits critical to much of the world’s technology.