M23 fighters superior on a number of fronts in DR Congo’s risky east Friday (February 22, 2025) because the U.N. Security Council for the primary time known as on Rwanda to cease backing the armed group and halt the bloodshed.
The M23 motion, supported by some 4,000 Rwandan troopers, in accordance to U.N. consultants, now controls massive swaths of jap Democratic Republic of Congo, a troubled area wealthy in pure assets.
Its fast advance has despatched hundreds fleeing. Fighters took management of the South Kivu provincial capital Bukavu final Sunday (February 16, 2025), weeks after capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu and most important metropolis in the nation’s east.
Friday’s (February 22, 2025) unanimously adopted U.N. Security Council decision “strongly condemns the ongoing offensive and advances of the M23 in North-Kivu and South Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces.”
It additionally “calls on the Rwanda Defense Forces to cease support to the M23 and immediately withdraw from DRC territory without preconditions.”
The Security Council had beforehand known as for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” by all events, however on Friday (February 22, 2025) all international locations together with the three African members pointed the finger at Kigali.
Recent positive aspects have given M23 management of Lake Kivu following its lightning offensive in the east. According to the U.N., the most recent combating has led to an exodus of greater than 50,000 Congolese to Burundi, Uganda and different international locations.
The European Union on Friday (February 22, 2025) summoned Rwanda’s ambassador to demand Kigali pull out troops from the nation and cease backing the armed group.
In a name with Kenyan President William Ruto, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio known as for an instantaneous ceasefire, saying there was “no military solution to the conflict”, in accordance to a State Department spokesperson.
Since the autumn of Bukavu, the Congolese armed forces have been retreating with out providing important resistance.
“Almost no Congolese soldiers are fighting,” an observer stated Friday (February 22, 2025), including that the “only ones still fighting are the Wazalendo” pro-Kinshasa militia.
The North Kivu metropolis of Masisi and its environment “are the scene of almost daily clashes” between the M23 and Wazalendo, medical charity MSF stated.
The M23 is now transferring towards the city of Uvira close to the Burundi border on the northwestern tip of Lake Tanganyika – the primary exit route for fleeing Congolese troopers.
A supply in Uvira’s municipality stated Friday (February 22, 2025) the navy commander had taken “measures to secure the population and their property, adding that “undisciplined elements had been arrested.”
Residents instructed AFP that Uvira was engulfed in chaos, with a whole bunch of troopers and their households crossing the city on foot to attain the port.
At least 423 inmates from Uvira jail have escaped and the bishop was robbed by armed males.
‘If you hesitate, they shoot’
On the northern entrance, which has been comparatively steady since December, M23 fighters are simply 9 miles (14 km) from Lubero, a strategic city.
Some Congolese troopers have fled Lubero, however others have been seen looting outlets, in accordance to native sources.
“The Congolese soldiers we met along the way robbed us of our phones, money and other belongings,” stated Aline Nyota, a displaced one that left Lubero to go additional north.
“If you hesitate, they shoot,” she stated.
The Congolese military spokesman in the area urged fleeing troopers to return “to their authorities” and to “avoid looting, extortion and rape”.
Traders in central Lubero have eliminated their items and faculties are closed. A relative calm returned on Thursday (February 20, 2025) night with the intervention of Ugandan troops deployed in the area as a part of a joint operation with the Congolese military.
Analysts have questioned how the Ugandan military would react if it have been to encounter M23 fighters.
Kampala is accused by U.N. consultants of sustaining relations with the M23, whereas searching for to shield its affect in the realm.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Friday (February 22, 2025) denied his troops meant to battle the M23.
Published – February 22, 2025 10:53 pm IST
