M23 Rebels Advance in Eastern Congo, Intensifying Regional Conflict

In eastern Congo, the Rwandan-supported M23 rebel group, after seizing Goma, has advanced around Lake Kivu towards Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city. Their progress, which included the capture of the strategic Kavumu airport near Bukavu, has intensified the longstanding conflict that traces its roots to the 1990s, involving power struggles, ethnic identities, and resource control. Along the frontline, the chaos has led to reports of looting and sexual violence as the rebels confront Congolese forces and their allies, including troops from Burundi.

This renewed conflict is part of an escalation that began after the 2022 insurrection by M23, a group that originally rose from a peace accord signed in 2009. The insurgents complain that the government has failed to integrate the Congolese Tutsi community properly and have vowed to protect Tutsi interests from ethnic militias such as the FDLR, a group composed of Hutus associated with the 1994 genocide. Additionally, the rebels use revenue generated from coltan mining in Rubaya to fund their operations, and their territorial gains threaten further resource exploitation.

The situation has drawn deep regional ramifications, with accusations directed at Rwanda for supporting the rebels by deploying troops and heavy weaponry on Congolese soil. While Rwanda denies involvement, the distrust is deepened by past military interventions and ongoing conflicts involving refugees and militant forces. Negotiations have stalled despite calls from African leaders for all parties to engage in dialogue, and the conflict looms as a potential precursor to a broader regional crisis.

On the ground, UN peacekeepers have been deployed in North Kivu to support the Congolese army, reflecting international efforts to curb the violence despite a recent partial withdrawal of the mission. Meanwhile, forces from neighboring countries, including Burundi and an augmented contingent from South Africa, are actively involved, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the conflict and the significant risk of further regional destabilization.