Fighting erupted on Tuesday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after a two-day lull. The conflict involved fighters from the M23 group, which is backed by Rwanda, attacking positions of the Congolese armed forces in South Kivu province at dawn. This information was reported by local and security sources to AFP.
Leaders from East and Southern Africa, at a summit on Saturday, called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire within five days. They expressed concerns that the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced large numbers of people, could spill over into neighboring countries.
The M23 group has quickly seized control of large areas in the mineral-rich eastern DRC after resuming armed activities in late 2021. On Tuesday, clashes were reported near Ihusi, located approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the provincial capital, Bukavu, and about 40 kilometers from the province’s airport. Local sources also noted the sound of “detonations of heavy weapons.”
In response to the escalating situation, reinforcements from the Congolese army are moving toward the town of Kavumu, home to the region’s main military base and the airport. In Bukavu, preparations for a potential M23 offensive have prompted schools to close and residents to flee, with shops shuttering in anticipation of an attack.
The M23, which claims to protect ethnic Tutsis, began its advance in South Kivu following its capture of Goma, the capital of neighboring North Kivu province, late last month. In Goma, a city of one million people, the group has started to establish its own administration and has initiated recruitment campaigns to create a police force.
