- विज्ञापन -
Goma: The March 23 Movement (M23) armed group has announced its takeover of Kavumu Airport in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Laurence Kanyuka, the group’s spokesperson, stated on X that “Kavumu Airport posed a threat to the civilian population in the liberated areas and our positions. Moving forward, Kavumu and its surrounding region, including the airport, are now under our control.”
Kavumu Airport, located approximately 30 km from Bukavu, the provincial capital, is vital for both humanitarian and military flights. Local sources reported that Congolese forces withdrew critical equipment before the airport fell into M23 hands, according to Xinhua news agency.
This latest offensive follows the M23’s claim on January 26 of having captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. Over the past week, the M23 has taken over multiple towns in South Kivu, causing panic among Bukavu’s residents.
Reports indicate that some DRC soldiers and their allies have retreated, while others are moving towards the road to Uvira. Civil society organizations published a letter urging authorities to refrain from combat in Bukavu to avoid civilian casualties.
The security situation in eastern DRC has worsened due to the M23’s resurgence, which Kinshasa and United Nations reports allege is supported by Rwanda. Since late 2021, the M23 has intensified its assaults, capturing strategic locations such as the commercial center of Bunagana on the Ugandan border and the mining town of Rubaya, known for its coltan resources.
The conflict’s roots trace back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and ongoing ethnic strife, primarily between the Tutsi and Hutu communities. The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the M23, while Rwanda claims that the Congolese army has allied with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group implicated in the genocide against Tutsi.
The escalating crisis has resulted in mass displacements, increased instability, and heightened diplomatic tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. In response to the situation, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi is seeking international support at the Munich Security Conference taking place from February 14 to 16 in Germany.
Efforts at diplomacy and military initiatives are ongoing to counter the M23’s advance and restore stability in the conflict-stricken Great Lakes region.
