Rwanda backed M23 rebels have entered the east Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Uvira near the border with Burundi, four sources including two residents told Reuters on Wednesday.
The latest milestone in the rebels’ advance through the mineral-rich region comes less than a week after DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame met with President Donald Trump in Washington and affirmed their commitment to a United States-brokered peace deal.
Rwanda denies backing M23 in DRC, saying its troops are in eastern Congo for “defensive measures,” although Washington and the United Nations say evidence of Rwandan support for the rebels is clear.
Reuters reported on Monday that M23 had captured Luvungi, a town that had stood as the front line since February, and that fierce fighting was ongoing near Sange and Kiliba, villages further along the road towards Uvira from the north.
It was not clear on Wednesday afternoon whether M23 was fully in control of Uvira, as residents reported hearing gunfire.
–Reuters–
