Delegations of Congo’s Catholic church on Wednesday met with a rebel leader, Corneille Nangaa whose Rwandan-backed M23 forces last month seized Goma, the biggest city in the country’s east.
Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have continued advancing south of the region.
The meeting in Goma comes as the rebel leader, Corneille Nangaa, tries to assert himself as the public face of politicians and rebel groups opposing Democratic Republic of Congo’s president, Felix Tshisekedi.
Nangaa’s Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which sees M23 as its military wing, has controlled Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, since late January and on Tuesday threatened to renew its advance on Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
Two United Nations sources and South Kivu’s provincial governor said on Wednesday that M23 now controlled the town of Ihusi, west of Lake Kivu between Goma and Bukavu.
“We have been informed that Ihusi has been taken by the enemies,” Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki said, adding that Congolese forces were staging a counter-attack.
Bukavu and the strategic town of Kavumu, 35 km to the north, where the airport is located, remain under the control of Congo’s army, which has the support of pro-government militia and troops from neighbouring Burundi.
After the meeting, Donatien Nshole, secretary-general of the Catholic bishops conference, said church officials pushed for the reopening of Goma’s airport and port and requested a ceasefire.
However, Tshisekedi’s office said on X on Wednesday that the president had separately met various religious leaders and was open to the Catholic church’s outreach, provided it was “inclusive”.
