M23 Rebels Target Bukavu Amid Calls for Ceasefire in DR Congo

The M23 rebel group is advancing towards Bukavu, DR Congo, leading to increased clashes and displacement of residents. Despite international pleas for a ceasefire, tensions escalate as the Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels.

M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are advancing towards the major city of Bukavu, triggering fears of a significant humanitarian crisis. Despite global calls for an immediate ceasefire and a return to peace negotiations, the insurgents continue their swift campaign, having already seized the strategic city of Goma last month.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing conflict. The M23, a Tutsi-led group reportedly backed by Rwanda, has faced accusations from the Congolese government of exacerbating turmoil to exploit the region's vast mineral resources—a claim Rwanda vehemently denies.

Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province and crucial to the region's mineral trade due to its position near Rwanda and Lake Kivu, is now under threat. Recently, rebel forces captured the airport about 30 kilometers north of the city, while the Congolese military and allied militia retreated.

Conflicts have intensified on Bukavu's outskirts, according to local officials, who advised residents to stay indoors for safety. During a discussion at the Munich Security Conference, President Félix Tshisekedi condemned Rwanda, asserting it has "expansionist ambitions" and insisting that foreign benefits from local resources will no longer be tolerated.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has stated that his country's focus lies on national security, claiming threats from Hutu militia in DR Congo. As the African Union prepares for a crucial summit in Ethiopia, AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat advocated for a ceasefire, warning that military action is not the solution to the escalating crisis.

The situation remains dire as both regional and global stakeholders await the next steps in addressing the conflict that continues to displace countless civilians in the eastern DR Congo.