M23 Rebels Defy Ceasefire Calls, Seize Key Mining Town in Eastern DRC
The M23 rebels captured Walikale, the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, after the presidents of Congo and Rwanda called for talks in Doha, Qatar. The town is rich in tin and gold deposits and is associated with four eastern provinces – North Keeff, South Keeff, Tshopo and Maniema. In addition, the Volkale region is home to the country’s largest tin deposit. Therefore, its attack reportedly dealt a major blow to the Congolese army, which reportedly stopped fighting. The escalation comes after M23 withdraws direct peace talks with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, citing EU sanctions on its leaders. This also marks another flash point in the decades-long conflict in Congo.
source: AP
