In the latest escalation of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), M23 rebels, supported by Rwandan forces, have launched a fresh offensive just days before a critical summit between the Rwandan and Congolese presidents.
The fighting, which has ravaged the region for more than three years, shows no sign of abating, with the death toll now surpassing 3,000.
The M23 rebel group, along with Rwandan troops, broke a ceasefire they had declared just days earlier.
Initially, the ceasefire was meant to come into effect on Tuesday, but instead, the rebels seized a mining town in South Kivu province and resumed their offensive towards the provincial capital, Bukavu.
Intense clashes erupted at dawn on Wednesday near Nyabibwe, located about 100 kilometers from Bukavu and 70 kilometers from the province’s main airport.
The M23 had initially stated that it had no plans to take control of Bukavu or other localities, suggesting that the ceasefire was intended to allow for peace talks.
However, the latest offensive raises serious doubts about the group’s true intentions, with Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya calling the ceasefire a “ploy.”
The ongoing violence has taken a devastating toll on human life. Last week, M23 rebels and Rwandan forces captured the key city of Goma, a strategically important location rich in minerals.
According to UN sources, the battle for Goma has left at least 3,000 people dead, a staggering increase from the previously reported toll of 900. Vivian van de Perre, the deputy chief of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), confirmed that more than 2,000 bodies had been recovered from the streets of Goma, with an additional 900 bodies remaining in local morgues.
The civilian death toll is expected to rise further as the conflict intensifies. Local hospitals and morgues are overwhelmed by the constant flow of casualties, and many bodies have yet to be accounted for.
The horrific situation has drawn condemnation from international bodies, with the International Criminal Court closely monitoring the situation, including the recent surge in violence.
The eastern DRC has long been plagued by armed groups vying for control over the region’s rich natural resources, including coltan, gold, and other valuable minerals. These resources are essential in the production of electronics like smartphones and laptops, making the region a target for various armed factions.
Rwanda has been accused of having a de facto control over the M23 rebels and even stationing up to 4,000 troops in the DRC, seeking to profit from the mineral wealth.Rwanda, however, denies military involvement with the M23, instead accusing the DRC of harboring the FDLR, a militant group composed of ethnic Hutus who fled Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.
Despite these denials, the DRC’s foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, has criticized the international community’s response to the ongoing crisis, stating, "We see a lot of declarations but we don’t see actions."
As the conflict shows no signs of slowing, neighboring countries are on high alert, bolstering their defenses in preparation for any potential spillover from the violence.
The East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are set to hold a summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday, where the Congolese and Rwandan presidents, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, will meet to discuss the ongoing crisis.
Additionally, a special session of the UN Human Rights Council will be convened a day earlier to address the worsening situation. International mediation efforts, including those from Angola and Kenya, are ongoing, but many are skeptical of their ability to resolve the crisis given the repeated breakdown of ceasefire agreements in the past.
In Bukavu, where fears of the violence spreading are growing, local residents have gathered for an ecumenical prayer service for peace. Jacqueline Ngengele, a local woman who attended the service, voiced the sentiments of many: “We are tired of the non-stop wars. We want peace.”
The situation in eastern DRC remains one of Africa’s most enduring and devastating conflicts. Despite numerous peace talks, ceasefires, and international interventions, the region has remained a hotbed of violence and instability.
With the latest death toll now exceeding 3,000 and no clear resolution in sight, the international community is under increasing pressure to take concrete action to address the crisis and prevent it from spiraling further out of control.
As the region braces for more conflict, the future of peace in the DRC remains uncertain, and the people of the region continue to suffer the consequences of a war that seems to have no end.
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