The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo intensifies with the M23 rebel group's recent seizure of Bukavu, raising alarms over regional stability and humanitarian crises.
**Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Advance into Bukavu Amid Rising Tensions**
**Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels Advance into Bukavu Amid Rising Tensions**
Fears escalate as M23 rebels capture key Congolese city despite international calls for peace.
The M23 rebels, reportedly supported by Rwanda, have officially entered Bukavu, South Kivu's pivotal city, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing offensive in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance, confirmed to Reuters that rebel fighters moved into the city late Friday, with plans to continue their operations into the following day.
This advance comes against the backdrop of ongoing international efforts urging a ceasefire and a revival of peace discussions, as the rebel offensive has displaced hundreds of thousands in just a few weeks. Last month, the Tutsi-led M23 captured Goma, the main urban center in the mineral-abundant eastern DRC. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of instigating instability to exploit the region's wealth—an assertion that Kigali has refuted.
Historically, the M23 has previously held Goma during the conflict in 2012, and if Bukavu falls, it would signify a pivotal moment in a protracted struggle. Bukavu, strategically located at the southern edge of Lake Kivu and bordering Rwanda, serves as a crucial hub for local mineral trading.
On the ground, rebel forces engaged with the Congolese military, which has shown considerable reluctance to confront them. Earlier on Friday, reports indicated that M23 fighters had secured the nearby airport, signaling a worrying trend of retreat by local troops.
Amid rising casualties, local sources report that 70 bodies were discovered tied up in a church in Mayba, which could signify the brutalities associated with the ongoing instability. The Allied Democratic Forces, connected to the Islamic State, are pointed to as the perpetrators, although these claims remain unverified by the BBC.
In response to the escalating violence, DRC's President Félix Tshisekedi, while speaking at the Munich Security Conference, accused Rwanda of fostering “expansionist ambitions” and called for sanctions against it. Tshisekedi declared that DRC would no longer tolerate foreign exploitation of its resources, emphasizing the need for a unified African response during the upcoming African Union summit in Ethiopia.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the AU Commission, echoed the call for a ceasefire, warning that military actions won't resolve the underlying issues. As these tensions mount, the path toward a stable resolution remains fraught with challenges, leaving millions uncertain about their future amidst ongoing conflict.
This advance comes against the backdrop of ongoing international efforts urging a ceasefire and a revival of peace discussions, as the rebel offensive has displaced hundreds of thousands in just a few weeks. Last month, the Tutsi-led M23 captured Goma, the main urban center in the mineral-abundant eastern DRC. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of instigating instability to exploit the region's wealth—an assertion that Kigali has refuted.
Historically, the M23 has previously held Goma during the conflict in 2012, and if Bukavu falls, it would signify a pivotal moment in a protracted struggle. Bukavu, strategically located at the southern edge of Lake Kivu and bordering Rwanda, serves as a crucial hub for local mineral trading.
On the ground, rebel forces engaged with the Congolese military, which has shown considerable reluctance to confront them. Earlier on Friday, reports indicated that M23 fighters had secured the nearby airport, signaling a worrying trend of retreat by local troops.
Amid rising casualties, local sources report that 70 bodies were discovered tied up in a church in Mayba, which could signify the brutalities associated with the ongoing instability. The Allied Democratic Forces, connected to the Islamic State, are pointed to as the perpetrators, although these claims remain unverified by the BBC.
In response to the escalating violence, DRC's President Félix Tshisekedi, while speaking at the Munich Security Conference, accused Rwanda of fostering “expansionist ambitions” and called for sanctions against it. Tshisekedi declared that DRC would no longer tolerate foreign exploitation of its resources, emphasizing the need for a unified African response during the upcoming African Union summit in Ethiopia.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the AU Commission, echoed the call for a ceasefire, warning that military actions won't resolve the underlying issues. As these tensions mount, the path toward a stable resolution remains fraught with challenges, leaving millions uncertain about their future amidst ongoing conflict.
