M23 rebels have entered the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s second-largest city Bukavu after seizing Kavumu airport, according to rebel leader Corneille Nangaa. The rebels claim they will continue their operation to “clean up” the city. Residents in a northern district reported seeing the militants on the streets without any fighting.
The Congolese army confirmed that M23 fighters took control of the airport and troops pulled back with their equipment. The capture of Bukavu would be an unprecedented expansion of territory under M23’s control since the insurgency started in 2022, posing a further threat to Kinshasa’s authority in the east.
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi warned of the risk of a wider war at the Munich Security Conference. The crisis is expected to worsen the humanitarian situation, with nearly 1.3 million people already residing in the city.
Rwanda rejects accusations that its troops are fighting alongside M23, saying they are defending themselves against a Hutu-led militia. The crisis will be discussed at the African Union summit this weekend, with Tshisekedi not attending due to intense pressure at home and a heavier military presence deployed over the past week in Kinshasa.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-m23-rebels-seize-two-more-towns-president-seeks-support-abroad-2025-02-14