M23 insurgents have intensified their offensive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), capturing two additional towns and advancing towards the airport in Bukavu, the provincial capital. This escalation raises urgent concerns over a potential humanitarian crisis and the safety of civilians in the region.
UNICEF reported alarming incidents of violence, stating that armed groups in eastern Congo have raped hundreds of women and children amid the M23’s recent takeover of Goma, a significant city that fell to the rebel forces two weeks ago, reportedly backed by Rwanda. The executive director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell, revealed a staggering 500 percent increase in reported rape cases treated in Goma’s hospitals during the last week of January when the rebel forces seized control of the city.
Following the capture of Goma, Bukavu emerged as the next target for the M23 rebels. Although M23 representatives claimed they would temporarily halt their advance to facilitate humanitarian aid, reports of renewed fighting near Bukavu quickly emerged. On Friday, the rebels seized the towns of Katana and Kalehe, with Katana being a commercial center located approximately seven miles from Kavumu, which houses Bukavu’s airport. Local residents shared videos of rebel troops advancing towards Kavumu, prompting the airport’s closure and the removal of much of its equipment.
M23 leaders announced that the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) had retreated from Kavumu in anticipation of the rebel advance. M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka characterized the insurgents as a "liberating" force, claiming that the airport posed a threat to civilians in the areas they control. He declared that Kavumu and its surroundings were now under M23 control.
As the situation deteriorates, many FARDC troops are reportedly retreating to Kinshasa, the national capital. The M23 has expressed intentions to capture Kinshasa and overthrow President Felix Tshisekedi. Unverified social media clips suggest some government soldiers have defected to join the M23 forces in celebration of their victories.
President Tshisekedi was in Germany attending the Munich Security Conference, where he met with International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan to discuss Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23. In his address, Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of being the "real culprit" behind the conflict, citing its "expansionist ambitions" in the mineral-rich eastern Congo. He called for decisive action from the international community, warning that the DRC would no longer tolerate the exploitation of its resources.
The head of the African Union (AU) commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has called for a ceasefire in the DRC, emphasizing the need for a unified African response to the escalating violence. Meanwhile, Bruno Lemarquis, the top U.N. humanitarian official in the DRC, has warned of an impending humanitarian disaster as the conflict approaches Kavumu Airport, which has been vital for U.N. operations in South Kivu province.
The humanitarian situation in South Kivu was already precarious prior to the insurgency, exacerbated by community tensions, land disputes, natural disasters, and a cholera outbreak. The ongoing fighting also coincides with a significant monkeypox outbreak, particularly concerning given the prevalence of the more dangerous clade-1b variant in Kalehe, one of the towns recently captured by the rebels.
As the violence continues, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) reported that over 870 civilians were killed in a recent attack by another militia, CODECO, which targeted villages in eastern Congo. This tragedy highlights the broader context of violence and instability that has plagued the region for years, leaving countless civilians at risk as they navigate the chaos.