M23 rebels have seized Walikale, a key mining hub in eastern DRC, despite calls for a ceasefire from the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC.

The town, rich in tin and gold, also controls a vital road linking four provinces.

M23’s rapid advance since January has displaced hundreds of thousands and killed over 7,000 people in the worst escalation in a decade.

Backed by Rwanda, the rebels claim to protect Congolese Tutsis, while the DRC and others accuse Rwanda of exploiting the region’s resources, The Guardian has reported.

Peace talks were set to begin but collapsed after M23 withdrew.

Written by B.C. Begley