Lunyasenge, a vital fishing town on the shores of Lake Edward in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, fell to M23 rebels Sunday.
The Congolese army confirmed the loss of the town in North Kivu province following deadly clashes with the rebel group and its allies.
Seventeen people were killed in the fighting, including seven Congolese soldiers and ten rebels, according to a local official speaking anonymously.
Colonel Mak Hazukay, the army’s spokesperson for the Greater North, condemned the assault as a “blatant violation” of ongoing peace efforts.
Hazukay warned that the military “reserves the right to respond on all fronts” if threats from M23 and its Rwandan allies persist.
Local residents said rebels arrived by boat from nearby fisheries in Vutsumbi and Kamandi Gite, launching their attack from the lake.
“I witnessed it firsthand; some crossed the lake and moved into the highlands,” said Muhisa Ngeloko, a resident of Lunyasenge.
The town sits four hours by boat from Kyavinyonge, a key fishery near Virunga National Park that connects to Butembo, Beni, and Uganda.
By taking Lunyasenge, M23 gains ground near Uganda’s sphere of influence and strengthens its grip on strategic trade and resource routes.
The rebel group has intensified its offensive since December, seizing several key areas despite recent diplomatic efforts.
In March, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame agreed to a ceasefire in Doha mediated by Qatar.
A month later, both nations signed a US-brokered declaration in Washington, pledging peace and mutual respect.
However, no updates have followed, and fighting continues in North Kivu, casting doubt over the future of the fragile peace process.
Tensions remain high as Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing M23—a charge Kigali denies.