GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo - Soldiers of the M23 rebel movement hold weapons aboard a vehicle in Sake near Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Photo by Takeshi Kuno) (Photo by Kyodo News Stills via Getty Images)
GOMA, DR CONGO (EPICSTORIAN ) – Fighting has erupted again in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as M23 rebels launched new attacks on government forces after a short pause.
At dawn on Tuesday, rebel fighters struck near Ihusi, a village about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Kavumu’s military airport and 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.
Regional leaders had called for an immediate ceasefire, but the rebel group, which claims to defend ethnic Tutsis, continued its advance after capturing North Kivu’s capital, Goma, in a violent raid that left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.
Bukavu on Edge as Residents Flee
Bukavu has been on high alert for days. Schools shut down on Friday, businesses closed, and families packed their belongings, fearing an M23 offensive.
“The people of Bukavu are anxiously waiting to see if M23 and its Rwandan backers will push forward,” said Al Jazeera correspondent Malcolm Webb, reporting from Nairobi.
West of Goma, displaced civilians said an M23 colonel entered the Bulengo camp on Sunday, ordering them to leave within three days.
M23 denied the accusations in a statement on Monday, claiming residents were voluntarily returning to what the group called “now-secured homes in liberated areas.”
Many in the overcrowded camp had been displaced for nearly two years and remained uncertain about the state of their homes. “Most are packing up to leave, but some are waiting to see if they will be forced out,” Webb added.
Ceasefire Calls and Growing Displacement Crisis
On Saturday, 24 East and Southern African leaders demanded an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire, warning that the conflict could spill over into neighboring countries.
The United Nations estimates that 6.7 million people have been displaced within the DRC, mostly from North and South Kivu provinces, where violence has intensified since M23 resurfaced in 2021.
More than 500,000 people have fled their homes since the start of the year, overwhelming already crowded displacement camps struggling with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
Earlier this month, the UN reported nearly 3,000 deaths from clashes between M23 rebels and Congolese forces in Goma alone.
Rwanda Rejects Allegations Amid Resource Disputes
DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23 and looting its vast mineral resources, which include rare earth deposits critical for global technology production. Rwanda has denied the claims.
“We categorically oppose the DRC’s attempts to portray Rwanda as responsible for instability in eastern Congo,” Rwanda’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, James Ngango, told an emergency Human Rights Council meeting.
Ngango claimed new intelligence indicated a large-scale attack on Rwanda was imminent following the fall of Goma. “Kinshasa and its allies have been stockpiling weapons in and around Goma airport,” he added.
CODECO Fighters Kill Dozens in Separate Attack
In Ituri province, fighters from the CODECO armed group stormed villages in the Djugu territory, killing at least 35 civilians.
Jean Vianney, a local official, said the attack began at 8 p.m. on Monday. “Many were burned to death in their homes,” he reported.
Some officials suggested the death toll could be as high as 50, including children.
CODECO controls gold-rich areas of Ituri and has been accused by the UN of war crimes, including attacks against Hema herders, the dominant ethnic group in the region.
Crisis Deepens as Violence Escalates
The surge in fighting has heightened fears of a prolonged conflict. International efforts to broker peace continue, but the situation remains volatile, with millions caught in the crossfire.
