The M23 Rebel Group Has Advanced Into Bukavu in the DRC
Residents of Bukavu walking next to M23 fighters [Amani Alimasi/AFP]
On Sunday Feb. 16, the Democratic Republic of the Congo confirmed the rebel group M23’s rapid advance into the city of Bukavu, a major territorial gain and unprecedented advancement for M23. This is the second city that the group has taken, after Goma in late January. The DRC’s government views this expansion as an act of aggression by Rwanda, claiming, “Rwanda is stubbornly pursuing its plan to occupy, pillage and commit crimes and serious human rights violations on our soil”. Rwanda denies their support for the M23 group; however, UN sources have confirmed that M23 is essentially under de-facto Rwandan control.
Upon entering Bukavu, one of the leaders of the M23 group, Bernard Maheshe Byamungu, proclaimed that “we are going to clean up the disorder left over from the old regime.” The group met little resistance from government forces, as Congolese troops withdrew from the city in order to prevent fighting in densely populated areas. Hence, M23 could claim control over the city swiftly.
However, the President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC still claims that the city is under governmental control, not acknowledging the gains of M23 as of Feb. 19. This statement fueled concern among citizens that the president does not understand the risk of potential spreading of the conflict. The occupation of Bukavu is a major escalation of the conflict and members of the military expressed confusion at the President’s denial of the loss of the city to the insurgency group.
Congolese citizens who fled Bukavu at the Rusizi district in Rwanda waiting to return home [Reuters]
The insurgency came with a high cost, with hundreds of thousands of people being displaced by the fighting. Beyond the current crisis in the country, the most recent advancement has led to the United Nations accusing the group of further human rights abuses. Reports confirmed summary executions of children in Bukavu after M23 took control of the city, falling on the backdrop of accusations against both the Congolese government and the M23 group recruitment of child soldiers amid a larger investigation by the UN Human Rights Council.
Between the taking of both Goma and Bukavu, there have been enormous numbers of people killed and displaced by the conflict. The conquest of these cities came after M23 violated a ceasefire two weeks prior, when they took Nyabibwe. Concerns of the conflict escalating further into a regional war are rising, as M23 had previously stated that they had no intention of taking Bukavu.
These concerns have led to the African Union calling for a renewal of a ceasefire in eastern Congo as of Feb. 18. This represents rising concern for regional escalation and a condemnation of M23’s increased aggression. The Union also recognized that attacks against civilians and peacekeepers in this conflict constituted war crimes. The conflict continues to garner attention with rising international pressure to end the fighting and respect international human rights standards.