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
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The fifth round of Iran-US talks ended after three and a half hours.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The fifth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States has begun at the headquarters of the Sultanate of Oman's mission in Rome.
Turkish public prosecutor has issued arrest warrants for 63 active-duty military personnel over alleged links to a group accused of orchestrating the 2016 coup attempt
Kremlin says no agreements yet on next platform for Russia-Ukraine negotiations
YAF spokesperson: We targeted Lydd Airport, known as Ben-Gurion Airport, with a hypersonic missile
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: Two Israeli airstrikes targeted Wadi al-Aziziya in the Tyre district.
CIA spokesperson says law enforcement responded to a security incident outside CIA headquarters.
Brigadier General Saree: Operation achieved its targeted successfully, forcing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters, and halted air traffic at the airport.
YAF spokesperson: We've executed a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Yafa with ballistic hypersonic missile.
IOF warning forces residents to evacuate and head South in preparation for expansion of aggression.

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels push deeper into Congo despite ceasefire call

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 19 Mar 2025 22:21
3 Min Read

The M23 rebel movement has pushed into Walikale, home to 15,000 people and extremely rich in minerals, particularly tin.

Listen
  • x
  • 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)
    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)

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced further into Congolese territory late Wednesday, reaching the outskirts of Walikale just a day after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda called for an immediate ceasefire, residents told Reuters.

Gunfire erupted near the Nyabangi neighborhood, according to local resident Janvier Kabutwa. An army source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rebels launched a surprise attack on an army position outside the town, battling Congolese soldiers and pro-government groups.

Walikale, a mineral-rich town known for its tin deposits, marks the farthest west M23 has reached in its rapid offensive this year. Home to around 15,000 people, the town is located approximately 125 km northwest of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which the rebels seized in January. The latest advance puts M23 within 400 km of Kisangani, Congo’s fourth-largest city.

The escalating violence has already disrupted mining operations, with Alphamin Resources suspending production at its Bisie tin mine, 60 km northwest of Walikale, due to security concerns.

Read more: Bukavu hospital patients shot in chaos of Congolese withdrawal

Related News

DRC, M23 agree to truce in eastern Congo, work toward ceasefire

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

The conflict has drawn increased diplomatic attention, as neighboring countries and global powers scramble to prevent a full-scale regional crisis reminiscent of the 1998-2003 war, which involved multiple nations.

On Tuesday, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Qatar for their first direct talks since M23 intensified its offensive in January.

Alongside Qatari officials, they issued a joint statement calling for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire. However, the rebel group’s continued westward push raises doubts over the viability of the truce. 

Later, the M23 rebel movement announced its withdrawal from planned negotiations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government, citing international sanctions as a key obstacle to dialogue.

Despite initially sending a delegation, M23 released a statement through its spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, expressing frustration over what it described as external interference. The group accused certain international bodies of deliberately hindering peace efforts and making negotiations unfeasible.

"Successive sanctions imposed on our members … severely undermine direct dialogue and make any progress impossible … Under these circumstances, the talks have become impracticable. Consequently, our organization can no longer continue to participate in the discussions," the statement read.

🚨 COMMUNIQUÉ OFFICIEL 🚨

L’#AFC/#M23 dénonce les sanctions injustes et les attaques indiscriminées du régime de Kinshasa, compromettant le dialogue de paix.
Face à cette escalade, la tenue des pourparlers devient impossible. pic.twitter.com/APXquj3Pim

— AFC-Alliance Fleuve Congo (@afcongo) March 17, 2025

  • M23 rebels
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Congo
  • Rwanda

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

  • MENA
  • 17 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
The sun sets over Nuuk, Greenland, Monday, July. 31, 2017.
Environment

Greenland’s moon rock mine: Europe wins, US watches

A US B-1B Lancer landing after a Bomber Task Force mission at Naval Station Diego Garcia last year (US Air Force/AP)
Asia Pacific

UK retains US base access as Chagos sovereignty transfers to Mauritius

A coworking office space in Meridian, Idaho, Thursday, April 18, 2024 (AP)
Technology

US plans data portal to expand warrantless surveillance: The Intercept

'Israel' releases Gaza detainees after months of starvation, torture
Palestine

Released Gaza detainees report abuse, starvation in Israeli prisons

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