ISHASHA, Congo (AP) — Congo’s new M23 rebel group have opened a new front north of their current stronghold in the country’s eastern city of Rutshuru in order to protect the local population, said a rebel spokesman.

The group of about 1,000 fighters created after several officers from the Congolese army defected in April and May, has been fighting the Congo army south of its base in Rutshuru for two months. It is now spreading its control toward Lake Edward. The rebels took the small town of Nyamilima on Monday and now say they are planning to attack Ishasha, a trading post on the border with Uganda. The M23 said that they are attacking to protect the local population from other rebel groups such as the Mai Mai and the FDLR.