M23 Rebels Abduct 130 Sick and Injured Men from Hospitals in Congo

kinshasa - Rebels from the M23 group in eastern Congo have abducted at least 130 sick and injured men from hospitals, causing concern.

M23 Rebels Abduct 130 Sick and Injured Men

The M23 rebels in eastern Congo have abducted over 130 sick and injured men from hospitals. The abducted patients were suspected to be working for the Congolese army. The coordinated manner in which they were taken from hospital beds is extremely disturbing, said UN spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. They are being held in unknown locations and there is no communication with them possible. The rebels have not responded to the accusation.

In the past month, M23 rebels and Rwandan soldiers have captured two major cities in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, expanding their territory and forcing nearly a million people to flee. Since the end of January, 7000 people have lost their lives in the area.

The M23 group consists mainly of Tutsi ethnic group military members. This group has been in power in Rwanda since 1994, with Paul Kagame as the autocratic leader. Kagame has long been accused of fueling ethnic conflict in eastern Congo. He aims to benefit from the region's valuable minerals, including coltan and gold. Coltan ore is crucial for the production of mobile phones.