The M23 rebel group is advancing toward Butembo, a strategic city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising fears of further violence in the already volatile region. Residents and civil society leaders confirmed on Tuesday that the rebels had launched coordinated attacks on Congolese army positions along the route to the city, escalating tensions in the mineral-rich area.
Auguste Kombi, a civil society leader in Kitsombiro, a town along the Butembo road, described the deteriorating security situation.
“We fear that the enemy will push forward to Butembo,” he stated, as reports surfaced of intense clashes.
Butembo, home to approximately 150,000 people, lies around 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Goma, a city of over 2 million that fell to M23 last month following intense fighting that reportedly left 3,000 dead. The rebel group’s northward advance signifies a broader strategy to establish territorial control over key urban centers in eastern Congo.
The offensive also includes a southern push, with M23 seizing Bukavu, a provincial capital near the Burundian border, earlier this week. Bukavu and the surrounding region are rich in gold and coltan—an essential mineral used in electronic devices such as laptops and smartphones.
On Tuesday, M23 further consolidated its presence by capturing Kamanyola, a town located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Bukavu, after overpowering Congolese army resistance. Civil society representative Steve Mubalama in Kamanyola warned that the rebels could extend their control as far as Uvira, a strategically significant city 75 kilometers (45 miles) to the south, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
M23 is one of over 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo, competing for control over the region’s vast mineral wealth. A U.N. report estimates that the group receives external support, a claim that has been repeatedly denied by Rwanda. The rebels have at times vowed to march as far as Kinshasa, over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away.
“We fear facing a situation similar to Goma, where so many lives were lost,” said Kambale Nyuliro, a government official in Kitsombiro. He reported that Lubero, a key town along the route to Butembo, was nearly surrounded by M23 fighters, though still under Congolese army control.
“Since the fighting started, the enemy has only advanced,” Nyuliro added, highlighting the government’s struggle to contain the offensive.
Analysts suggest that, unlike their brief occupation of Goma in 2012, M23 is now seeking lasting political influence. The rebel-appointed mayor of Goma recently announced plans for a population census, signaling intentions to maintain control over the city. Meanwhile, ferry services between Goma and Bukavu resumed on Tuesday, marking the only remaining travel route between the two cities amid continued instability.
The conflict is rooted in longstanding regional tensions. Rwanda has accused Kinshasa of harboring ethnic Hutu militants responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, while M23, largely composed of Tutsi fighters, claims to be defending Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent from discrimination. However, analysts argue that these narratives serve as a cover for broader geopolitical and economic interests in eastern Congo.
The crisis has drawn international condemnation. On Tuesday, the U.K. Foreign Office summoned Rwanda’s ambassador in London, condemning M23’s actions as “an unacceptable violation of (Congo’s) sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The British government called for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces from Congolese territory. Kigali has yet to issue a formal response.
The humanitarian toll continues to mount, with over 6 million people displaced due to ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. Uganda, whose border is close to the rebel stronghold, announced on Tuesday that it had deployed troops to the city of Bunia in eastern Congo, ostensibly to combat armed groups causing instability. Uganda has periodically sent troops into the region in coordination with the Congolese government.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has accused M23 of committing serious human rights violations, including the killing of children and attacks on medical facilities and humanitarian warehouses. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk stated that his office had confirmed “cases of summary execution of children by M23 after they entered Bukavu last week.”
U.N. agencies have previously accused both M23 and the Congolese government of recruiting child soldiers, further complicating the conflict’s ethical dimensions.
Earlier this month, the U.N. Human Rights Council launched an inquiry into war crimes, including rape and extrajudicial killings committed by both M23 and Congolese forces. The findings could influence international intervention and accountability measures in the coming months.
As M23 expands its territorial grip, fears of further humanitarian crises and regional instability grow. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis remain stalled, with regional leaders calling for renewed negotiations. However, with fighting intensifying and no clear resolution in sight, the people of eastern Congo remain caught in a cycle of violence, displacement, and geopolitical maneuvering.