Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have vowed to take their fight to the country’s capital – but their attempts to march south are have been met by resistance.
Rwanda-backed rebels aiming to gain power have already captured Goma, a key city in eastern DRC.
At a briefing where they sought to assert their control over Goma and its surrounding region, rebel leader Corneille Nangaa declared: “We want to go to Kinshasa, take power and lead the country.”
He did not say how the M23 group plans to advance to the capital, which is more than 1,500km away.
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DRC‘s government has insisted it will defend its position, with its president for calling for a huge military mobilisation to resist the rebellion and its defence minister rejecting calls for talks.
“We will stay here in Congo and fight. If we do not stay alive here, let’s stay dead here,” said defence minister Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, a close ally of Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi.
Meanwhile rebels attempting to advance south met resistance from the Congolese army and its allies, a Congolese official said.
A 1,500-strong force, including troops from Burundi and local militias, defended the town of Nyabibwe, on the road to Bukavu.
Relations between Rwanda, which is backing the M23 group, and Burundi are already hostile.
Fighting between their two armies in DR Congo would heighten fears the conflict could become a regional war – which the United Nations has already expressed concern over.
An African diplomat said: “The Rwandan, Congolese and Burundian armies are already clashing on the ground in eastern Congo.
“The capture of Goma was a wake-up call for the international community, which realises the danger now.”
Read more:
What is the fighting about?
Displaced civilians face fear and uncertainty
Inside the city overrun with rebels
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Millions of civilians died, mostly from disease and malnutrition, during two major conflicts in the region between 1996 and 2003.
The M23 is mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis, who broke away from the Congolese army more than 10 years ago.
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The group is one of about 100 that have been vying for a foothold in the region.
Hundreds of people are being wounded every day amid the ongoing violence – worsening the country’s humanitarian crisis.
