Kinshasa: The M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda, has captured Kavumu Airport, a critical airfield serving Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The airport, used mainly for humanitarian and military operations, was the final significant military checkpoint before the rebels could advance toward Bukavu, located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away.
According to reports, Congolese forces withdrew from the airport with minimal confrontation, retreating to Bukavu. The rebels also took control of Katana, a nearby town approximately 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the airfield.
The escalation occurs just ahead of the African Union summit in Ethiopia, where the conflict in the DRC is expected to dominate discussions. While Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi was originally set to attend, the country’s prime minister will now represent him. Tshisekedi, meanwhile, participated in the Munich Security Conference in Germany, seeking international backing for his country amid the crisis.
Despite the M23’s recent pledge of a unilateral ceasefire, clashes resumed shortly after a brief two-day pause. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the outgoing African Union chairperson, urged all parties to honor a ceasefire, emphasizing that military solutions would not resolve the crisis.
The situation in eastern DRC has worsened since late January, when the M23 rebels swiftly captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. From there, they advanced southward toward Bukavu, a crucial strategic city. The UN Refugee Agency reports that ongoing violence has displaced approximately 350,000 people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The fall of Goma also sparked outrage in the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa. Protesters targeted several diplomatic missions, including those of Rwanda, France, Kenya, and the United States, accusing foreign powers of interfering in the conflict.
