Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are making advances toward Butembo in eastern Congo, causing alarm among residents. They have captured Goma, Bukavu, and threaten stability in a region already strained by multiple armed groups. The international community is raising concerns over human rights violations and calls for the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congo.
Residents of eastern Congo are increasingly alarmed as Rwanda-backed rebels, known as M23, reportedly advance towards Butembo, a city that houses over 150,000 people. “We’re afraid that the enemy will advance to Butembo,” stated Auguste Kombi, a civil society leader, highlighting the deteriorating security situation as Congolese army positions were attacked.
The M23 rebels have already captured Goma, a city with a population exceeding two million, and this week, they took control of Bukavu, further asserting their dominance in the region. Analysts warn that the rebel group’s movement indicates a potential bid for political power, unlike their earlier capture of Goma in 2012.
Kambale Nyuliro, a local civil servant, expressed concerns that similar violence as experienced in Goma could occur, noting that M23 fighters surround Lubero town yet it remains under Congolese army control. “Since the fighting began, the enemy has only advanced,” he noted.
The situation has drawn international condemnation, with the U.K. Foreign Office urging Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory, deeming their actions as violations of Congo’s sovereignty. Rwanda’s involvement is framed as protection of Tutsis and Congolese Rwandans, but analysts argue these claims serve as pretexts for intervention.
The M23 conflict exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the region, which has displaced over 6 million people due to various armed groups. Concerningly, the U.N. human rights chief has reported atrocities, including the execution of children by M23 and the recruitment of minors by both sides involved in the conflict.
The escalating activities of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo pose significant threats to civilian safety and regional stability. With the rebels advancing toward key cities and committing severe human rights violations, the international community urges immediate action to restore sovereignty and protect vulnerable populations. The situation remains precarious as humanitarian crises worsen amidst ongoing violence.
Original Source: www.kob.com
