The ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a critical point as M23 rebels entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in the region, on Friday evening. This latest advance marks a significant escalation in a war that has already displaced hundreds of thousands in recent weeks.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23 rebels, confirmed to Reuters that the rebels had entered the South Kivu provincial capital and planned to continue their advance. The development comes despite international calls for a ceasefire and renewed peace negotiations.
Last month, M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, seized Goma, the largest city in mineral-rich eastern DRC. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of destabilizing the region to exploit its natural resources, a charge Rwanda has consistently denied.
Bukavu, which borders Rwanda, is a crucial transit hub for the region’s mineral trade. The rebels’ presence there signals a new phase in the conflict, reminiscent of 2012 when M23 briefly took Goma before being pushed back. The capture of Bukavu, however, could prove even more destabilizing.
On Friday, reports emerged that the rebels had taken control of an airport about 30 kilometers north of Bukavu. Government forces and allied militias withdrew with little resistance, though heavy clashes occurred on the outskirts of the city, according to South Kivu’s Deputy Governor Jean Elekano.
Further north, in the village of Mayba, local media reported the discovery of 70 bodies tied up inside a church. The Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels were blamed for the massacre, though these reports have yet to be independently verified.
As the situation in eastern DRC deteriorates, President Félix Tshisekedi has called for Rwanda to be sanctioned, accusing it of having “expansionist ambitions.” Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said, “We will no longer put up with our strategic resources being plundered for the benefit of foreign interests under the complicit gaze of those who feed on chaos.”
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, meanwhile, has dismissed the allegations, insisting that Rwanda’s primary concern is its own security, particularly the threat posed by Hutu rebels based in eastern DRC. He has also shrugged off the possibility of sanctions.
The crisis is set to dominate discussions at the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia. AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat has urged an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing that “military campaigns are not going to solve these problems.”
With the conflict escalating and humanitarian conditions worsening, the coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomatic efforts can prevent further bloodshed.
