Abdelrahman
Renewed Violence in South Kivu: M23 Rebels Clash with Congolese Forces
The conflict in the South Kivu province has reignited as Rwandan-backed M23 rebel forces engage with the Congolese military, ending a brief two-day pause in hostilities. Reports indicate that intense shelling commenced Tuesday morning, just three days after a summit involving leaders from East and Southern Africa, which called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
The M23 rebels have made significant territorial gains in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), having captured key areas including the central city of Goma. Their latest advances signal a push towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, further escalating tensions in the region.
Since the onset of hostilities in early January, approximately 2,900 individuals have lost their lives, according to the most recent figures from the United Nations. The ongoing violence has also led to the displacement of around 700,000 people, with many others suffering injuries.
The recent clashes erupted near Ihusi, located about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Bukavu and approximately 40 kilometers from the regional airport, as reported by security sources to the AFP news agency. A spokesperson from the Congo River Alliance (AFC), which includes the M23 among its ranks, noted that their fighters may advance the conflict into Bukavu.
In response to the Congolese government’s arrest of 84 military personnel for alleged crimes against civilians, Lawrence Kanyuka from the AFC stated, “If these abuses continue, we will take full responsibility to eliminate the threat at its source and safeguard our communities.”
Amid the increasing chaos, there are reports of thousands of refugees who fled the violence being pressured by the M23 to return home. While the M23 denies these accusations, reports from French broadcaster RFI indicate that several large camps for displaced individuals have been dismantled, forcing residents to return to their villages amid ongoing conflict. The United Nations humanitarian agency, Ocha, has also reported that the M23 has given displaced residents in Goma a 72-hour ultimatum for return.
Kanyuka countered these claims, labeling them as "propaganda" and asserting that the displaced individuals were returning of their own accord. He emphasized that the M23 does not force anyone to return without adequate security assurances.
The M23, predominantly composed of ethnic Tutsis, claims to be fighting for the rights of minority groups, while the Congolese government argues that the insurgents are aiming to exploit the region’s abundant mineral resources. The DR Congo government, along with the UN, has accused Rwanda’s Tutsi-led administration of supporting the M23 rebels—an assertion that Kigali has consistently rejected. However, the official stance has recently changed, with government representatives acknowledging that fighting near its borders poses a security threat.
