Rwandan-backed rebels have intensified their campaign in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), making significant territorial gains as international appeals for restraint appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
According to local sources speaking to Agence France-Presse, fighters from the M23 group have successfully captured two districts in South Kivu province, moving closer to the provincial capital, Bukavu. A local civil society leader noted that this advance occurred without any reported fighting.
In response to the escalating situation, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi delivered a late-night address urging young citizens to enlist in the military “massively” and promising a “vigorous and coordinated response” to the rebel threat.
The conflict escalated dramatically on Monday when M23 fighters and Rwandan troops entered Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and a key hub for displaced individuals. This marks the most significant surge in violence since 2012 in a conflict that has spanned decades.
The Congolese army’s primary defensive position is now in the city of Kavumu. If the M23 rebels continue their advance beyond this point, Bukavu could be at risk. Some Congolese soldiers who lost their positions in Goma have already fled to Bukavu for safety.
In his first address since Goma’s fall, Tshisekedi emphasized a united front against what he termed “terrorists and their sponsors.” He criticized the international community’s “silence and inaction,” calling it a grave affront amid a deteriorating security landscape that could destabilize the broader Great Lakes region.
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UN experts estimate that the M23 rebels are supported by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, a substantial increase from the number involved during the 2012 crisis when Goma was briefly captured.
Rwanda is facing increasing scrutiny and pressure over its involvement. The United States has expressed deep concern regarding the conflict’s escalation, Germany has canceled a meeting with Rwandan officials, and the UK has warned that $1 billion in aid to Rwanda is at risk.
Despite this pressure, Rwanda’s ambassador-at-large for the Great Lakes region, Vincent Karega, asserted that the M23 offensive would persist, suggesting the potential for further advances into the DRC, even reaching Kinshasa.
Tshisekedi opted not to participate in an emergency virtual summit convened by the East African Community to address the conflict. During the meeting, attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, leaders called for an immediate ceasefire and urged dialogue between the DRC and armed groups, proposing a joint summit with the Southern African Development Community.
The DRC is rich in valuable minerals, including gold, cobalt, coltan, tantalum, and tin, which are crucial for global electronics. Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of orchestrating this military offensive to capitalize on these resources, a claim supported by UN experts who suggest that Rwanda maintains “de facto control” over the M23.
Rwanda has denied these allegations and continues to assert that its involvement is aimed at neutralizing the DRC-based FDLR, an armed group formed by Hutu leaders responsible for the Rwandan genocide against Tutsis.
This situation remains fluid, with ongoing developments that could further impact the region’s stability.
