Goma, Congo — On Wednesday, Rwandan-supported rebels made significant advances in eastern Congo, despite previously announcing a unilateral ceasefire just days earlier. According to civil society representatives and local residents, the M23 rebels have taken over a city located approximately 60 miles (96 kilometers) from Bukavu, the provincial capital.
Earlier in the week, the M23 rebels declared a ceasefire aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid and addressing the plight of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced individuals. However, the Congolese government has dismissed this ceasefire as a “false communication,” while the United Nations has reported ongoing clashes between the rebels and Congolese forces in this mineral-rich region.
Néné Bintou, the leader of South Kivu province’s civil society, confirmed that the city of Nyabibwe is now under the control of the M23 rebels. This city lies along the route between Bukavu and Goma, the latter being seized by the rebels just last week and still firmly under their control. A local resident, Moïse Bisimwa, expressed concerns about the situation, stating that the rebels captured Nyabibwe at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, casting doubt on the sincerity of the announced ceasefire by suggesting it was merely a façade.
Following their control of Goma, a provincial capital with a population of approximately 2 million, the M23 rebels have reportedly continued their offensive in other areas of eastern Congo and are now advancing toward Bukavu. While the rebels claimed that they have no intentions to seize Bukavu or nearby regions, they have previously outlined ambitions to reach Kinshasa, the nation’s capital located a thousand miles away. M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka assured the public of their commitment to safeguarding civilians while maintaining their positions.
The M23 rebels are thought to be receiving support from around 4,000 troops from Rwanda, as per assessments from U.N. experts. This troop level exceeds that of 2012 when similar forces briefly captured Goma before withdrawing under international pressure. The M23 is recognized as the most formidable among the over 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo, a region rich in essential mineral resources vital to global technology.
In response to the crisis, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame asserted he was unaware of any Rwandan military presence in Congo while emphasizing that his country would take necessary measures to ensure its protection. Analysts are increasingly worried that Rwanda could be looking to gain control over parts of Congo to secure access to its mineral wealth. Meanwhile, the Rwandan government has depicted the conflict as a defense of ethnic Tutsis in Congo against Hutu forces connected to the mass genocide in Rwanda three decades ago that resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus.
Rwandan forces have historically entered Congo under similar pretexts, contributing to what has become one of Africa’s protracted conflicts, resulting in the displacement of millions. Additionally, neighboring Uganda has deployed its military inside Congo, particularly in Ituri province since 2021, to combat the armed group known as the Allied Democratic Forces, with the consent of the Congolese president. Col. Deo Akiiki, the Ugandan military’s deputy spokesman, indicated that there had been no fresh troop deployments to Congo in recent weeks.
As Goma grapples with the aftermath of the conflict, Congolese authorities report that more than 2,000 individuals have been killed since the city fell to the rebels, and residents are continuing the somber task of burying the dead. Bruno Lemarquis, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Congo, has urgently called for the reopening of Goma’s airport, deeming it critical for facilitating the evacuation of injured individuals and the provision of humanitarian aid.
