Rebels have taken control of several towns in Congo.

Rebel forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo announced on July 8 that they had taken control of more towns, including the strategic location of Rutshuru in North Kivu province, after government forces withdrew.

The town of Rutshuru is located on a main road north of the capital Goma in North Kivu province. In addition, several other towns in the east such as Rubare, Kalengera and Kako have also fallen to the rebels.

People flee the town of Kibumba after clashes between government forces and rebel groups. (Source: AFP/VNA)

The leader of the rebel force, known as M23, Sultani Makenga said his forces had captured the four towns. However, he insisted they would withdraw and hand over control to the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and the national police.

M23, a rebel group formerly a Tutsi army that merged with the Democratic Republic of Congo's army in 2009, defected earlier this year citing disagreements over pay and living conditions.

The group said it had taken control of the towns of Rutshuru, Ntamugenga and Rubare in North Kivu province on the night of July 6 without encountering any resistance from the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo, also known as the FARDC.

The move comes two days after M23 captured the mineral transit town of Bunugana near the Ugandan border. Fierce fighting forced 600 FARDC fighters to flee into Uganda and killed an Indian UN peacekeeper.

M23 has said it will retain control of Bunagana to prevent the FARDC from accessing areas where the rebels are stationed.

The rebel group has also set conditions with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo such as the repatriation of Congolese refugees in Rwanda, the promotion of democracy as well as the confirmation of the ranks that M23 members once held in the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT