The Rwanda-backed M23 militant group has seized control of Walikale, a key mining town in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite recent efforts to broker a ceasefire, local sources reported Thursday.

The town, home to around 60,000 people, fell to the M23 on Wednesday evening, marking the furthest west the rebel group has advanced since its emergence in 2012.

The capture comes just after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame held surprise talks in Doha on Tuesday, where they voiced support for a ceasefire. However, the specifics of any potential truce remain unclear, with mediator Qatar stating that further negotiations are needed.

"Walikale-centre is occupied by the M23...We retreated to avoid human losses," an officer from the Congolese military (FARDC) told AFP, noting that government forces had withdrawn to Mubi, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) away. Another security source confirmed the capture and reported fighting in Mubi on Thursday.

The bigger picture

The escalation has already disrupted the mining industry. Earlier this month, mining company Alphamin evacuated its employees and halted operations at the Bisie tin mine, one of the world’s most productive sources of cassiterite, located in Walikale. The suspension has driven up global tin prices and raised concerns about supply chain stability, particularly for the electronics and renewable energy sectors, which rely on the metal for soldering components onto circuit boards. The region is also home to several gold mines.

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Locals have reported the presence of M23 fighters in Walikale. "They are in the neighborhoods of Walikale," said civil society representative Fiston Misona. Another resident, speaking anonymously, said they saw groups of armed fighters "through the windows" of their home.

A Doctors Without Borders (MSF) facility was "caught in the crossfire" during the clashes, though no injuries were reported, according to local official Marco Doneda. "The MSF team is concerned about the influx of those wounded in the coming days and hours," he added.

Ceasefire talks in jeopardy

The M23 has made rapid territorial gains in recent months, pushing Congolese forces out of much of North and South Kivu provinces and heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.

The DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 to gain control over valuable mineral resources. While Rwanda denies providing military assistance, a UN experts' report has stated that Rwanda maintains approximately 4,000 troops in eastern DRC to support the armed group.

On Tuesday, Kagame and Tshisekedi met in Doha for discussions mediated by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The two leaders, whose past diplomatic efforts have repeatedly faltered, reaffirmed their commitment to "an immediate and unconditional ceasefire," according to a joint statement. However, no concrete details have emerged regarding how the ceasefire would be enforced, particularly as M23 would need to be involved for it to be effective.

The meeting followed the abrupt cancellation of peace talks that were set to take place between Kinshasa and the M23 in Luanda, Angola, on Tuesday. The last formal negotiations between the Congolese government and the M23 took place in 2013.

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