M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, have launched fresh attacks on Congolese government forces in South Kivu province, breaking a brief two-day pause in hostilities.
Heavy shelling began on Tuesday morning, just three days after a summit of East and Southern African leaders called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
The rebel group has already seized significant territory in eastern DR Congo, including the major city of Goma, and is now advancing toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
According to the latest UN estimates, around 2,900 people have been killed since early January due to the ongoing conflict, with approximately 700,000 others displaced and thousands more injured.
Fighting erupted near Ihusi, about 70 km (43 miles) from Bukavu and 40 km from South Kivu’s airport, security sources told AFP.
A spokesperson for the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a coalition that includes the M23, suggested that the rebels might extend their offensive to Bukavu.
Reacting to the arrest of 84 Congolese army personnel for alleged crimes against civilians near Bukavu, AFC spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka stated, “If these crimes persist, we will take full responsibility to eliminate the threat at its source and protect our people.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that M23 is forcing thousands of displaced refugees to return home. The group has denied the allegations, but French broadcaster RFI reported that large displacement camps have been dismantled, leaving residents with no choice but to return to conflict zones.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, stated that M23 had given displaced people in Goma a 72-hour deadline to return home. Kanyuka dismissed the claims as “propaganda,” insisting that returns are voluntary and only occur with proper security assurances.
M23, a predominantly ethnic Tutsi rebel group, claims to be fighting for the rights of minority communities, while DR Congo’s government accuses them of attempting to seize control of the mineral-rich eastern region.
Both DR Congo and the UN have accused Rwanda’s Tutsi-led government of supporting the M23, an allegation Kigali has consistently denied. However, Rwanda’s recent official statements suggest a shift in tone, citing fighting near its border as a growing security concern.
