International
M23 Rebels Resume Attacks in Eastern DR Congo
- M23 rebels resume attacks in eastern DRC after a brief ceasefire.
- Thousands displaced as violence escalates near Bukavu and North Kivu.
- UN warns of worsening humanitarian crisis amid aid funding cuts.
The M23 rebels have reignited hostilities against the armed forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), launching attacks early Tuesday near the village of Ihusi.
The location, approximately 40km (25 miles) from Kavumu’s strategic military airport and 70km (43 miles) from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, is now a focal point in the escalating conflict.
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After a brutal offensive in North Kivu’s Goma last month that claimed thousands of lives, the M23—who claim to defend ethnic Tutsis—have continued their push southward into South Kivu, defying urgent calls for a ceasefire from 24 regional leaders.
Residents of Bukavu had been bracing for an assault, with schools shutting down on Friday and businesses closing as people fled in fear of an impending attack.
Meanwhile, displaced people at the Bulengo camp west of Goma reported that an M23 colonel had entered the site on Sunday, ordering them to evacuate within three days.
DR Congo Military
The rebels denied these claims, stating that people were voluntarily returning to what they called “now-secured homes in liberated areas.” However, many displaced individuals, having lived in the camp for up to two years, remain uncertain about whether they have homes to return to.
The intensifying violence comes just days after 24 East and Southern African leaders demanded an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire, warning of potential regional spill over. The United Nations reports that 6.7 million people have been displaced within the DRC, primarily from North and South Kivu, where insecurity has surged since the M23’s resurgence in 2021.
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More than 500,000 people have been forced to flee since the start of this year, straining overcrowded and under-resourced displacement camps. Bruno Lemarquis, a senior UN official in the DRC, warned that the crisis has worsened due to a halt in US humanitarian aid.
The 90-day pause—announced by US President Donald Trump after taking office last month—has forced the shutdown of critical emergency programs, including health and shelter initiatives, leaving vulnerable populations at even greater risk.
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