M23 rebels capture Goma as new leader shifts group's identity in Congo

M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have taken control of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo. A new leader, Corneille Nangaa, has emerged, shifting the group's identity from an ethnic Tutsi faction to a more diverse, Congolese nationalist group. Nangaa, previously the head of Congo's electoral body, aims to establish a new administration in Goma and has plans to march towards the capital, Kinshasa. This marks a significant change from M23's earlier focus on Tutsi interests. The group, now with around 6,500 fighters, seeks to provoke discussions on autonomy in eastern Congo. Analysts note that M23's current strategy is to build local alliances and present itself as a legitimate political force.