M23 Rebels Advance into Bukavu Amid Escalating Tensions in DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo's M23 rebels have taken control of Bukavu, highlighting a surge in conflict that has displaced thousands and drawn accusations against Rwanda for fueling unrest. Calls for a ceasefire and peace talks intensify amidst ongoing violence.

M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have made significant strides by capturing the city of Bukavu, the second-largest city in the region. Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes the M23 insurgents, confirmed to Reuters that the rebels entered the South Kivu provincial capital on Friday evening and intend to advance further on Saturday. The rebels’ progress persists despite widespread international appeals for a ceasefire and renewed peace negotiations.

In recent weeks, the advance of the Rwandan-backed M23 has forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Last month, the group had already taken Goma, another key city in the mineral-rich eastern region. The Congolese government is accusing Rwanda of destabilizing the area to plunder its resources, a claim that the Rwandan government denies. The current occupation of Bukavu would mark a significant escalation in the region's turbulent history, as the city serves as a crucial hub for the local mineral trade and lies close to the Rwandan border.

Reports indicate that earlier on Friday, M23 fighters managed to secure the airport located about 30km (19 miles) from Bukavu. This came as the Congolese army and allied militia withdrew without much resistance. However, heavy fighting was reported on the outskirts of Bukavu, as noted by South Kivu's Deputy Governor Jean Elekano.

Further north in Mayba, local media reported the discovery of 70 bodies inside a church, reportedly tied up. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic State-linked extremist group, have been blamed, though this information has not been independently verified by the BBC.

Residents of Bukavu have been urged to stay indoors as tensions rise. At the Munich Security Conference, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi called for sanctions against Rwanda, condemning its so-called "expansionist ambitions" and pledging to thwart the illegal exploitation of national resources. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, however, insists that Rwanda's focus lies in ensuring its security from Hutu rebels reportedly taking refuge in DR Congo and has dismissed any threat of sanctions.

The developments occur just as leaders from across Africa prepare to convene at an African Union summit in Ethiopia on Saturday. The head of the AU commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, emphasized the necessity for a ceasefire and cautioned that military solutions would not resolve the ongoing crisis.