M23 Rebels Seize Key City Bukavu, Escalating Eastern Congo Conflict

The fall of Bukavu to M23 rebels deepens the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with fears of regional war growing as neighboring nations become increasingly involved.

M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, captured Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, after taking the strategic Kavumu airport with minimal resistance.
The rebel group now controls two major cities in eastern Congo—Goma and Bukavu—cutting off key supply routes for the Congolese army and isolating the region from the rest of the country.
The conflict has displaced 700,000 people and caused 3,000 deaths since the start of the M23 offensive, with reports of mass atrocities, including killings and sexual violence, emerging from captured areas.
Regional organizations, including the EAC and SADC, have called for a ceasefire and international pressure on Rwanda to halt its alleged support for the rebels, but diplomatic efforts have yet to yield results.
Analysts warn of the potential for a broader regional war, with Burundi reinforcing its troops in Congo and tensions between Rwanda and Burundi exacerbating the crisis.