The M23 rebels, with the support of the Rwandan army, have taken Kavumu Airport, located 30 kilometers from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. The offensive, which follows the conquest of Goma, leaves the city of Bukavu under threat.

According to a RFIThe conquest of this strategic point represents an advance in the offensive that the group has been carrying out against the Congolese government, threatening the stability of the region. Bukavu represents an important point before arriving in Bukavu, a city with more than a million inhabitants and considered one of the largest urban centers in eastern DRC.

Kavumu airport, an important logistical point for resupplying the army of the former Zaire, has reportedly been surrendered without much resistance, according to reports confirming the withdrawal of the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) from the site. M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka announced that he had taken control of the site and the surrounding area, including the airport, following the clashes.

The rebel advance has created a climate of tension in the city of Bukavu, where the population has begun to leave their homes. In several areas of the city, there are reports of a silent evacuation of local administrations and urban life has been disrupted. The governor of South Kivu, Jean-Jacques Parusi Sadiki, has also left Bukavu.

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi on Friday denounced Rwanda's "expansionist intentions" in the east of the DRC, calling for the isolation of the party "truly responsible for the situation", during a speech at the Munich Security Conference.

"What is needed is to put the real culprit of this situation on the sidelines: Rwanda," said Félix Tshisekedi, at a time when the armed group M23, backed by Kigali, seized the airport in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province.

The humanitarian situation in the region is deteriorating. The United Nations estimates that there are around 350,000 displaced people. People have been forced from their homes to seek shelter and many survivors are living in unsanitary conditions. Hunger and a lack of access to medical care are exacerbating the crisis, with the risk of diseases such as cholera spreading, say the international authorities.

Since taking Goma last month, in January, the rebels have been advancing in a coordinated manner and with no signs of retreat. Although a ceasefire was declared in February, during the summit of the Economic Community of Southern African States (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC), the M23 ignored calls for peace and continued their advances on the ground. The Kinshasa government has accused M23 of violating the ceasefire agreement, while the international community is trying unsuccessfully to intervene to find a solution.

Fears of a regional war are growing as the Rwandan-backed M23 moves to take control of the region. The DRC, which accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebellion in order to gain access to natural resources such as tantalum and tin, faces a new challenge: the war not only threatens its territorial integrity, but also the stability of neighboring countries. Uganda, Burundi and South Africa have troops on the ground, supporting the Congolese army against the rebel offensive.

(Photo DR)