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The conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when government forces launched an aerial attack targeting the M23-controlled DR Congo mine in the country’s east.
Security sources confirmed that drones were used to strike a mining site occupied by the Rwanda-backed rebels, intensifying the ongoing battles in the region.
The fighting primarily concentrated near the mining town of Rubaya, which has been a focal point of the conflict since April 2024, when the M23 captured the site with assistance from Rwanda. Rubaya is a significant mining town, producing between 15 and 30 per cent of the world’s coltan, a mineral vital for the manufacture of electronics such as laptops and mobile phones. The mine’s control is pivotal not just militarily but economically, making it a prime target for both the rebels and the DRC government.
Since its resurgence in 2021, the M23 has steadily taken control of large portions of the DRC’s resource-rich eastern regions, further exacerbating the long-standing conflict that has plagued the area for over three decades. Rival armed groups and foreign powers have long contested control over the region’s valuable mineral resources, but the M23’s advance has reignited tensions, particularly in areas like North Kivu province, where Rubaya is located.
This latest offensive follows a broader pattern of aggression by the M23. In December 2023, the group launched an assault on the strategic town of Uvira in South Kivu province, near the border with Burundi, further aggravating the situation.
Despite international condemnation, including from the United States, which has attempted to mediate peace talks between the DRC and Rwanda, the conflict has escalated with little to no ceasefire progress. Angola, another mediator, had proposed a ceasefire to take effect on February 18, but the violence has continued unabated.
The DRC military, along with local militias, carried out additional attacks across various frontlines in North Kivu on Wednesday, with particular focus on Masisi, where Rubaya is situated.
Experts from the United Nations have reported that since its capture of the Rubaya mine, the M23 has established a parallel administration to control the mine’s operations. This has further undermined the Congolese government’s authority in the area, with residents in Rubaya expressing fear and anxiety about the ongoing military presence.
