The Democratic Republic of Congo faces escalating tensions as the M23 rebels, a Tutsi-led group with alleged Rwandan backing, continue their advance in the eastern region. After seizing Goma last month, the rebels have now entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in the mineral-rich area, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels to exploit the region's resources, a claim Rwanda denies.
The situation in Bukavu is dire, with residents advised to remain indoors as the rebels push forward. The city, situated on the Rwandan border, serves as a crucial transit point for the mineral trade. This new phase of conflict revives memories of 2012 when the M23 briefly captured Goma. Today, the Congolese government accuses Rwanda of sowing chaos to benefit from the region's resources and alleges that Rwandan troops are present in eastern DR Congo.
"We will no longer put up with our strategic resources being plundered for the benefit of foreign interests under the complicit gaze of those who feed on chaos." – DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi
President Félix Tshisekedi has called for international sanctions against Rwanda, accusing it of harboring "expansionist ambitions." In response, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has prioritized national security and dismissed any threats of sanctions.
The African Union (AU) is also involved, with its commission head, Moussa Faki Mahamat, urging for a ceasefire and emphasizing that military action will not resolve the conflict. The AU summit, scheduled for Saturday in Ethiopia, will address this pressing issue.
"Military campaigns are not going to solve these problems. There is a general mobilisation of Africa today on this issue and I hope that we will be able to impose this ceasefire." – Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the AU commission
Initially, reports pointed fingers at the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State-linked group, for exacerbating the situation. However, these claims remain unconfirmed by independent sources like the BBC.
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