The M23 rebel group has entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, confirmed to Reuters that the rebels had moved into the South Kivu provincial capital on Friday evening, with further advances planned for Saturday.
Despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire and renewed peace talks, the Rwandan-backed M23 continues its offensive, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians in recent weeks.
M23, a Tutsi-led group with alleged support from neighboring Rwanda, captured Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, last month. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of fueling instability to exploit the region’s vast mineral wealth—an allegation Kigali denies.
The group's capture of Bukavu marks a critical shift in the region’s volatile history. While M23 previously seized Goma in 2012, their current advance into South Kivu’s capital signals a broader and more aggressive strategy.
Situated on the southern edge of Lake Kivu and bordering Rwanda, Bukavu serves as a crucial hub in the regional mineral trade, making its control strategically significant.
Earlier on Friday, rebel forces entered an airport 30 km (19 miles) north of Bukavu after Congolese troops and allied militias withdrew with little resistance. However, intense fighting erupted on Bukavu’s outskirts, according to South Kivu’s Deputy Governor Jean Elekano.
Further north, in the village of Mayba, local media reported that 70 bodies were discovered in a church. The victims, found bound, were allegedly killed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group linked to the Islamic State. The BBC has not independently verified these reports.
Residents in Bukavu reported receiving official warnings to stay indoors as clashes continued. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi demanded sanctions against Rwanda, accusing it of territorial ambitions and systematic looting of Congolese resources."We will no longer tolerate our strategic resources being plundered for the benefit of foreign interests under the complicit gaze of those who profit from chaos," he declared, as reported by AFP.
Rwanda, which has denied backing M23, insists its primary concern is national security. President Paul Kagame has cited threats from Hutu rebel groups in eastern DRC and dismissed the possibility of sanctions affecting his country.
The latest developments come ahead of the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia, where regional leaders are expected to address the worsening crisis.
AU Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, warning that military solutions would not resolve the conflict. "Africa is mobilized on this issue, and I hope we can enforce a ceasefire," he stated.As fighting intensifies and diplomatic efforts struggle to take hold, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with thousands of families displaced and uncertainty gripping the region.