The UN Peacekeeping Mission in the DR Congo, MONUSCO, have revealed that the M23 rebels have tripled their territorial control in the eastern region.
MONUSCO representative Bintou Keita reported to the UN Security Council in Geneva, Switzerland that the rebel group are now control a territory three times larger than it did in its first escalation in 2012.
“The M23, non-signatory to the ceasefire agreement, has consolidated its civil and military occupation in North Kivu. Today, it controls large areas in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, Walikale, Nyiragongo and Lubero, an area thrice as large as that occupied in 2012,” Keita reported on Monday.
The Congolese government and its armed forces as well as supporting forces have so far failed to contain the M23 rebels who have continued to expand their control in North Kivu.
