M23 rebels seize town in eastern DR Congo

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M23 rebels seize town in eastern DR Congo

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Fighters from the M23 rebel group have seized control of the town of Nyanzale from the military in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We are now in Nyanzale, the enemy has fled,” stated rebel spokesperson Willy Ngoma.

Army commander Jerome Chico Tshitambwe confirmed that Nyanzale has indeed fallen to the rebels.

Nyanzale, situated approximately 130km (80 miles) north of the city of Goma, had been a place of refuge for people displaced by fighting in surrounding areas. However, earlier this week, thousands of them fled once more when Nyanzale came under fire.

Mr. Ngoma mentioned that many displaced individuals have now returned to the town.

Isaac Kibira, a deputy to the governor in the nearby town of Bambo, reported that M23 had been firing “indiscriminately” before taking control of Nyanzale.

“It is since the morning that we noticed the capture of Nyanzale by the M23, and the death toll rose to 15,” Mr. Kibira told Reuters.

The M23, formed as an offshoot of another rebel group, began operating in 2012 – ostensibly to protect the local Tutsi population that has long complained of persecution and discrimination. Despite being well-equipped, the group denies being a Rwandan proxy.

On Monday, the European Union expressed “extreme concern over the escalation of violence” and called for dialogue between DR Congo and Rwanda to address the root causes of the conflict.