Rwanda-supported M23 rebels captured the mineral-rich town of Walikale in eastern Congo late Wednesday, flouting a ceasefire call issued just a day earlier by the presidents of Congo and Rwanda. Local residents and civil society leaders confirmed the incursion, deepening fears of an intensifying conflict in the volatile region.

Prince Kihangi, a former provincial deputy for Walikale, told The Associated Press, “The rebels are visible at the monument and the Bakusu group office,” key central locations, verifying M23’s control. The takeover severs a vital road connecting North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, and Maniema provinces, isolating Congolese army positions. Fiston Misona, a local activist, reported heavy artillery fire throughout the day, tapering to sporadic gunfire by evening. “Our army isn’t fighting anymore,” he lamented. “It feels like we’re being abandoned.”

Neither M23 nor the Congolese government has commented officially. The seizure follows Tuesday’s Qatar-hosted talks between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who jointly urged an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire.” That plea came after M23 withdrew from planned negotiations, citing EU sanctions on its leaders, a move that derailed hopes of de-escalation.

The conflict, rooted in decades of unrest, surged in January when M23, bolstered by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops per U.N. reports, captured Goma, North Kivu’s capital, and Bukavu in February. Among over 100 armed groups vying for eastern Congo’s resources, M23 has at times threatened to advance 1,600 kilometers to Kinshasa. The violence has displaced over 7 million people, fueling a dire humanitarian crisis.

Walikale’s strategic value lies in its vast tin and gold deposits, including the Bisie mine, a major North Kivu tin exporter, which halted operations last week as rebels neared, according to operator Alphamin Resources. Wednesday’s advance, just 125 kilometers west of Goma, underscores M23’s relentless push despite international pressure, with the U.N. Human Rights Council recently probing alleged atrocities by both sides, including rape and executions.