The M23 rebel group intensified its offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Monday, pushing closer to the territorial capital of Walikale, according to local media reports.
This renewed advance comes just ahead of scheduled peace talks between the Congolese government and the rebel group in Angola.
Congolese news website Actualite reported that the fighting near Walikale highlights the volatile situation in North Kivu, where the M23 has been rapidly seizing key territories since its resurgence in December. The group, which has already captured major cities including Goma and Bukavu, further expanded its territorial control when it seized Nyabiondo in March, following days of intense clashes with government forces and the pro-government militia Wazalendo.
The escalation in combat comes on the heels of Angolan President Joao Lourenco’s call for a ceasefire, a move aimed at de-escalating tensions ahead of the peace talks scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda. As the African Union’s appointed mediator for the conflict, Lourenco has been actively working to create conditions conducive to dialogue between the DRC government and the M23 rebels.
The conflict, marked by its impact on civilian populations, has already forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, with the United Nations warning of significant humanitarian challenges in the region. Meanwhile, accusations persist that neighboring Rwanda is providing support to the M23 rebels—a claim that Rwanda continues to deny.
As the peace talks approach, regional and international observers remain cautiously hopeful that diplomatic efforts can help curb the violence in this mineral-rich and strategically critical part of the DRC. However, the continued military advances by the M23 raise serious concerns about the prospects for a sustainable ceasefire and a lasting resolution to the conflict.
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The military spokesperson for the M23 rebel movement, Willy Ngoma, was killed in an army drone strike in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo early on Tuesday (24 February), according to a regional diplomat, a senior rebel figure and a Western adviser to the government.
Escalating clashes in South Kivu’s highlands are sending a rising flow of wounded to Fizi’s small general hospital, where staff warn they are running out of space and supplies as the conflict expands across remote areas.
More than 200 people were killed this week when a landslide caused part of the Rubaya coltan mine to collapse in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said on Sunday (1 February). The disaster struck a rebel-controlled mining area during the rainy season.
More than 200 people were killed in a collapse at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week, according to rebel-appointed provincial authorities who said the final toll is still being verified.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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