The rebels took control of Bukavu, a strategic city in the South Kivu province, with minimal resistance. The capture of Bukavu comes just over two weeks after the rebels seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, after fierce battles that resulted in more than 3000 casualties.

The DRC government has long rejected any form of dialogue with the M23, labelling them as a terrorist group. Additionally, the Congolese authorities have accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels and using them to exploit mineral resources in the region. However, Rwanda has repeatedly denied these allegations. Despite this, a recent report from United Nations experts suggested that Rwandan soldiers have been seen fighting alongside M23 forces.

The growing conflict has drawn attention from international bodies, with the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community urging the DRC government to engage in talks with both the M23 and Rwanda to find a peaceful resolution. The M23 has stated that their primary objective is to protect the Tutsi community from attacks by the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda, a rival Hutu militia.

Since the group’s resurgence in 2021, the M23 has seized large areas of territory in North Kivu province, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The fighting has led to the deaths of thousands and displaced millions of people, creating a vast refugee crisis that continues to strain the region.

As the conflict intensifies, the calls for dialogue grow louder, with hopes that international mediation may finally pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the war that has ravaged the eastern DRC for decades.

--ChannelAfrica--