M23 Rebels Push South, Seize Airport Near Bukavu Amid Chaos \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Thousands fled Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second-largest city, as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced, leading to widespread looting and disorder. Although the rebels had not yet fully taken control, their capture of an airport outside the city signaled growing territorial gains. International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, called for an immediate ceasefire. Meanwhile, the United Nations warned that the conflict risks regional escalation, as Ugandan and Burundian troops remain involved in the volatile situation.
Congo Crisis: Quick Looks
- Mass Panic in Bukavu: Thousands of residents and soldiers fled as rebels neared the city.
- Looting and Chaos: With Congolese troops retreating, looters ransacked stores and factories.
- M23 Seizes Airport: The rebels claimed control of the airport north of Bukavu.
- Macron’s Ceasefire Call: The French president demanded M23’s withdrawal and a return of Congolese authorities.
- UN’s Warning: Secretary-General Guterres cautioned that the conflict could escalate into a regional war.
- Uganda’s Threat: Uganda’s top general warned that forces in the Ituri province must surrender within 24 hours or face attack.
Deep Look
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is once again at a crossroads as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continue their aggressive push southward, causing mass panic, looting, and displacement in Bukavu, the country’s second-largest city in the east. Their latest offensive marks one of the most significant expansions of rebel-held territory in recent history, and their control over key strategic areas is now challenging the central government’s authority.
This growing crisis is not only deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in eastern Congo but also raising alarms internationally, as foreign leaders weigh in on how to contain the escalating violence.
Bukavu in Chaos: Mass Exodus, Looting, and Lawlessness
On Saturday morning, residents of Bukavu woke to chaos and fear as word spread that M23 rebels had reached the outskirts of the city. Located 63 miles (101 kilometers) south of Goma, Bukavu is home to 1.3 million people and serves as a major commercial and transport hub for the region.
The sight of armed rebels near the city sent shockwaves through the population. Thousands of people, including residents, business owners, and Congolese soldiers, scrambled to flee, seeking safety in neighboring areas or deeper into the Congolese interior. Those who couldn’t leave barricaded themselves indoors, waiting to see what would come next.
The Collapse of Order: Troops Retreat, Looters Take Over
As Congolese troops retreated south, the vacuum they left behind was quickly filled by looters and opportunists. Factories were pillaged, prisons emptied, and businesses ransacked. Some locals even reported burnt bodies strewn in the streets, a chilling sign of the disorder engulfing the city.
“We’re no longer waiting for the crackling of bullets as we were during the day,” said Bukavu resident Alexis Bisimwa, explaining that gunfights had stopped after government troops withdrew.
Some Congolese soldiers—rather than protecting civilians—were reportedly involved in looting themselves. A 25-year-old resident in a neighborhood hit by looters told the AP:
“It’s a disgrace. Some citizens have fallen victim to stray bullets. Even some soldiers still present in the city are involved en masse in these cases of looting.”
Despite the chaos, M23 has not yet declared full control over Bukavu. However, their rapid expansion south of Goma signals that they are on the verge of seizing another major urban center.
M23’s Growing Strength and Strategic Gains
The M23 rebellion, which consists of approximately 4,000 fighters backed by Rwanda, has steadily expanded its influence across eastern Congo, one of the world’s most resource-rich yet conflict-ridden regions.
Their recent southward expansion has now surpassed the territory they seized in previous offensives, posing an unprecedented challenge to Kinshasa. If they take Bukavu, it would mark one of their biggest victories yet, placing them in control of yet another strategically significant city.
Their seizure of the airport north of Bukavu on Friday was a major blow to government forces, cutting off a crucial supply line for the Congolese military and humanitarian aid agencies. The Congo River Alliance, a rebel coalition that includes M23, justified the seizure by claiming it was necessary to prevent Congolese forces from launching airstrikes against civilians.
For now, the central government in Kinshasa remains largely silent, struggling to mount an effective response. Despite having one of the largest militaries in Africa, the Congolese army is plagued by corruption, lack of coordination, and poor training, making it difficult to counter the well-equipped and disciplined M23 fighters.
International Reactions: Macron and UN Urge Ceasefire
The rapid escalation of violence has drawn concern from the international community, with world leaders calling for immediate action to prevent further bloodshed.
On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron demanded an immediate ceasefire, calling for:
“An immediate M23 withdrawal and the safe return of Congolese authorities to Bukavu.”
At the African Union summit in Ethiopia, UN Secretary-General António Guterres also issued a stark warning, cautioning that the conflict could spiral into a full-scale regional war. He emphasized:
“Regional escalation must be avoided at all costs. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of (Congo) must be respected.”
Despite these urgent calls for peace, the international response remains fragmented, with no clear action taken against Rwanda or M23. The lack of intervention has left the Congolese government largely on its own in confronting the insurgency.
Uganda’s Involvement: New Front in the Conflict?
While M23 advances southward, another conflict is brewing further north. In the province of Ituri, Ugandan troops are engaged in combat against the Islamist Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), another violent rebel group.
On Saturday, Uganda’s top military commander, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, issued a 24-hour ultimatum, warning that all armed forces in the region must surrender or face attack.
“If they don’t, we shall consider them enemies and attack them,” Kainerugaba posted on X (formerly Twitter), without specifying which groups he was referring to.
This heightened military action from Uganda adds another layer of complexity to Congo’s crisis, as multiple regional powers become entangled in the violence.
What’s Next? The Road Ahead for Congo
With the Congo River Alliance—a coalition that includes M23—showing no signs of slowing its offensive, the future of eastern Congo remains in deep uncertainty.
Key Challenges Moving Forward:
- Will Bukavu Fall? The rebels have not yet fully taken the city, but their control over the airport and surrounding areas suggests that they are on the brink of victory.
- Will the Congolese Military Fight Back? The government in Kinshasa has remained largely silent, struggling to coordinate a response to the crisis.
- Will the International Community Step In? Despite Macron and the UN’s calls for a ceasefire, there has been no concrete action against M23 or Rwanda, leaving Congo largely alone in the fight.
- Could the Conflict Escalate into a Regional War? With Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda already involved, there are growing fears that eastern Congo could become the battleground for a larger regional conflict.
Final Thoughts
Eastern Congo has long been a region of instability, conflict, and humanitarian crises, but M23’s latest expansion marks one of the most serious threats to peace in years. If Bukavu falls, it could further erode the Congolese government’s control, leading to even greater displacement, violence, and regional instability.
For now, residents of Bukavu are left in fear, bracing for what could be another dark chapter in Congo’s long history of conflict. The world is watching—but will it act?
M23 Rebels Push M23 Rebels Push
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