M23 Rebels Capture Key Airport Near Bukavu, Heightening Humanitarian Concerns

CDCongo, Democratic Republic|

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized the strategically important Kavumu airport, the last military obstacle before reaching Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to reports by Reuters and Agence France-Presse, the airport's fall follows a recent rapid advance by the group, raising fears of an imminent assault on Bukavu, home to approximately one million residents.

Locals reported that M23 soldiers are blocking access to nearby roads and taking control of key areas, including Kabamba and Katana. Airport employees noted that the facility has effectively closed, with Congolese forces evacuating equipment and retreating towards Bukavu amid increasing instability.

Fighting has intensified in eastern DRC over recent years, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that 350,000 people are now internally displaced due to ongoing violence. The DRC's President, Félix Tshisekedi, is currently seeking international support at the Munich Security Conference, while his Prime Minister represents the DRC at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Humanitarian officials have expressed alarm over the situation, as previous conflicts have led to significant loss of life and displacement in the region.

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