Chaos has erupted in Bukavu, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as M23 rebels continue their offensive. Residents have reported sporadic gunfire and widespread looting, including at a food aid depot, forcing many to take shelter in their homes.
The situation follows conflicting reports about whether the Rwanda-backed M23 fighters have entered Bukavu. On Friday, the rebels seized Kavumu airport, located north of the city. Their rapid advance has raised fears of a wider conflict, with the UN and the European Union expressing deep concern.
The UN secretary-general warned against regional escalation, emphasizing that “there is no military solution” to the crisis and urging respect for DR Congo’s sovereignty. Meanwhile, the European Union is urgently considering its response, stating that the violation of the country’s territorial integrity “will not go unanswered.”
The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of fueling the conflict to exploit the region’s vast natural resources, a claim Rwanda denies. The violence has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
As the fighting continues, Bukavu’s streets remain deserted, with residents too afraid to leave their homes. A woman in the city described the desperate situation, saying she had only enough food for three days and feared for her safety.
Looting has exacerbated the crisis, with the theft of 6,800 metric tons of food from a UN aid warehouse further deepening the humanitarian emergency. The agency had already halted operations due to deteriorating security conditions.
There are conflicting accounts about the rebels’ presence in Bukavu. Some residents report seeing M23 fighters in the northern suburb of Bagira, while others say the group has not yet entered the city center. If Bukavu, a city of over a million people, falls under M23 control, it would mark a significant expansion of rebel-held territory since their insurgency reignited in 2022.
Meanwhile, tensions have escalated further with Uganda’s military chief threatening to attack the Congolese town of Bunia unless all forces there surrender. This has sparked fears that the region could slide into a broader war, reminiscent of past conflicts that killed millions.
The mineral-rich eastern DR Congo has been plagued by violence for decades, with conflicts drawing in neighboring countries and leading to catastrophic humanitarian crises. As fighting intensifies, the risk of another devastating regional war looms large.
