GOMA, Congo (AP) — In a troubling escalation of violence, over 400 civilians have reportedly been killed in the ongoing offensive by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group in Kivu province, eastern Congo. Regional officials provided this information late Wednesday, indicating that Rwandan special forces have been seen in the strategic city of Uvira, which has become a focal point in this conflict.
The M23's latest offensive has raised significant concerns, especially since it follows a peace agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents, mediated by the United States, signed just a week prior in Washington. Notably, this accord did not incorporate the M23, which is engaged in separate negotiations with Congo and had previously agreed to a ceasefire. Both parties, however, have accused each other of violating this ceasefire. The peace agreement obliges Rwanda to cease support for armed groups and work towards ending hostilities, making the ongoing violence particularly troubling.
According to a statement from the South Kivu government spokesperson, the fatalities include many women, children, and young people, said to have been killed by bullets, grenades, and bombs in the regions between Uvira and Bukavu, the provincial capital. The statement explicitly condemned the presence of Rwandan special forces and foreign mercenaries in Uvira, labeling their actions as violations of both the ceasefire and the commitments made in the recent agreements.
M23 claimed control of Uvira on Wednesday afternoon, following a rapid offensive that began at the start of the month. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka took to the social media platform X to encourage displaced citizens to return to their homes. Uvira serves as an important port city on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika, directly neighboring Burundi's largest city, Bujumbura.
Additionally, Congo, along with the U.S. and United Nations experts, has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23. The group had an estimated 400 members in 2021, and this number has surged to about 6,500 fighters according to U.N. estimates. Despite these allegations, Rwanda denies any involvement, although it has acknowledged maintaining troops and missile systems in eastern Congo for national security purposes. U.N. experts have indicated that there may be as many as 4,000 Rwandan forces currently present in Congo.
In a related statement, Burundian Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana urged the U.S. to exert pressure on Rwandan President Paul Kagame to adhere to the terms of the U.S.-mediated agreement. He emphasized that without Kagame's support, M23 would be significantly weakened. Bizimana warned that the conflict poses a threat not only to Uvira but also to Bujumbura, noting the rise in refugees and asylum seekers in recent days. He pointed out that Uvira and Bujumbura are both coastal cities, arguing that instability in one threatens the other.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa called on M23 and Rwandan troops to halt all offensive operations and demanded the withdrawal of Rwandan Defense Forces back to Rwanda. The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by blaming the Congolese armed forces for recent ceasefire violations, claiming that Congo had openly stated its intention to reclaim lost territories even as peace discussions were ongoing.
With over 100 armed groups vying for dominance in the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo near the Rwandan border, the conflict has resulted in one of the most significant humanitarian crises globally. According to officials, more than 7 million people have been displaced. Local U.N. partners reported that since December 2, over 200,000 individuals have fled their homes, accompanied by more than 70 reported deaths. Refugees continue to cross into Burundi, with incidents of shells landing in the town of Rugombo, raising concerns over the potential for the conflict to spill over into Burundian territory.
In summary, the situation in eastern Congo remains dire, with escalating violence from the M23 group and serious implications for regional stability.
