M23 Capture of Shasha Severs Key Supply Route to Goma
On March 20, 2026, M23 rebels backed by the AFC seized the strategic town of Shasha in North Kivu. Radio Okapi reported that the advance forced 22,000 civilians to flee toward Minova and the South Kivu border. The capture effectively cuts the main supply road between Goma and Bukavu, significantly worsening the food security of hundreds of thousands. Displaced populations are reportedly sheltering in schools and churches without adequate humanitarian access.
Date: March 20, 2026
Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Conflict: M23 Rebellion
Category: ground battle
Severity: HIGH
Casualties reported: 12
Displaced: 22,000
Source: Radio Okapi