Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Saree: Earlier yesterday morning, the Yemeni Armed Forces' UAV unit carried out a military operation targeting Lydd Airport with a Yafa-type drone
Saree: The operation successfully achieved its goal and forced millions of Zionists into shelters, and air traffic at the airport was halted for about an hour
Saree: The operation was carried out with two ballistic missiles, one of which was a hypersonic Palestine 2 missile and the other was a Thulfiqar missile
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The rocket force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a top-tier military operation targeting Lydd Airport, called Ben Gurion Airport in 'Israel', in occupied Yafa
Tebboune: Achieving economic integration must not remain a dream.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf delivers a speech on behalf of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at the Fifth Arab Development, Economic, and Social Summit in Baghdad.
Mustafa: We reaffirm our commitment to work with our brothers and friends around the world for stability and an end to wars.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa: We stress the importance of reaching an agreement to implement the initiatives of the Development, Economic, and Social Summit.
Aboul Gheit: The global economy is going through a period of turbulence.
Aboul Gheit: Concrete solutions must be found for the issue of Arab food security in line with the strategy proposed at the Arab Summit in Baghdad.

M23 militants capture key DR Congo town despite ceasefire

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Mar 2025 15:49
3 Min Read

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.

Listen
  • x
  • FILE - Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP)
    FILE - Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, on Sunday, February 23, 2025. (AP)

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.

Related News

M23, Southern Africa bloc agree on troop withdrawal from Eastern DRC

M23 fighters remain in Walikale despite pledge to withdraw

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.

Read next: M23 rebels withdraw from peace talks amidst sanctions dispute

  • M23 militants
  • DR Congo
  • ceasefire
  • Rwanda

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP)
Technology

Microsoft admits supplying AI to 'Israel' amid Gaza carnage

Israeli occupation’s tanks parked in a staging area near the border with Gaza, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' launches multi-axis assault in Gaza under 'Gideon’s Chariots'

People stand at the train ticket counter of NJ Transit at Penn Station, amid a strike by New Jersey Transit train engineers, in New York, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP)
Economy

Commuters stranded amid first New Jersey railway strike in 40 years

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts
US & Canada

Trump's tax bill stalls as Republican opposition demands deeper cuts

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS