Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of Minova, a vital trading centre situated just 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Goma, the capital of war-torn North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Minova’s fall comes two weeks after M23 captured Masisi, a significant location within the mineral-rich area. Fierce fighting erupted shortly after the cancellation of planned peace talks between Rwandan and DRC leaders, scheduled for 15 December, in Angola. Since then, M23 has successfully overrun several towns and settlements as it pushes toward Goma, a city it briefly occupied in 2012.
A June 2024 report from UN experts revealed that Rwanda had sent approximately 3,000 to 4,000 troops to bolster M23, aiding their territorial gains in eastern Congo. The M23 group has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the Great Lakes region.
The ongoing resource-driven war, which has lasted for three decades, is recognised as one of the most destructive and prolonged conflicts in modern history. It involves over 120 militias and armed groups, many reportedly supported by foreign governments and interests. This enduring conflict has generated around 6 million deaths, more than 7 million internally displaced people and numerous reports of s*xual violence.
The DRC is estimated to hold a staggering $24 trillion in untapped mineral resources, including cobalt, gold, lithium and coltan, drawing the attention of powerful foreign entities eager to exploit these riches. Tech giants have come under fire for sourcing cobalt, a key component in rechargeable batteries, from mines accused of using child labour and operating under hazardous conditions. While a class-action lawsuit brought by child miners against several tech companies failed last year in the United States, similar legal action is now underway in Europe, keeping the spotlight on the exploitative practices tied to Congo’s mineral wealth.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9e57wln45o
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congos-m23-rebels-seize-eastern-town-minova-2025-01-21/
https://apnews.com/article/congo-rebels-minova-m23-goma-kivu-30eb356bd6e6e6dc933fc5539b3054aa
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/01/19/m23-fighters-congo-town/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/21/m23-rebels-seize-key-eastern-drc-town-of-minova
https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/118/80/pdf/n2411880.pdf