By Sonia Rolley (Reuters) – Tensions escalated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as government forces and local militias clashed south of Bukavu, the provincial capital. Sources within the military and local residents reported that this clash was a result of troops withdrawing in the face of an advance by M23 rebels supported by Rwanda.
The original plan was for the troops and their militia allies to retreat from Bukavu, a vital economic center, to avoid engaging in urban warfare with the rebels. However, disagreements arose as the militias preferred to confront the rebels head-on. As the rebels approached Bukavu over the weekend, the situation descended into chaos, according to a Congolese general, senior officer, community leader, and residents interviewed by Reuters.
After losing Goma, another major city near the Rwandan border, the defending forces hastily abandoned Bukavu, leaving its population of 1.3 million vulnerable. While direct confrontations with the M23 were minimized, towns south of Bukavu were caught in the crossfire as pro-government militia members, known as the Wazalendo, attempted to disarm or impede fleeing or disloyal Congolese troops.
A local community leader shared on Monday that gunfire was heard from Kamanyola to Uvira, towns on the N5 route south of Bukavu that became unexpected battlegrounds away from the main conflict with the M23. “Every village along the N5 route is being evacuated,” the leader added.
The disorderly retreat and the rapid advances of the M23 rebels in eastern Congo raise concerns about the country’s potential disintegration, the risk of a regional conflict involving Uganda, and discussions in Kinshasa about a potential coup against President Felix Tshisekedi.
“It’s utter chaos,” remarked a source from civil society in Kamanyola, echoing the sentiments of residents reporting clashes between Congolese troops and their former allies in recent days.
The rebels, predominantly ethnic Tutsis and backed by Rwanda, assert that they are fighting for their rights. Meanwhile, various militias seek control of the region’s valuable mineral resources, including tantalum and cobalt crucial for electronic devices and electric vehicles globally, with Congo also being the leading copper supplier to China.
Amid reports of the chaotic retreat from Bukavu, signs of unrest appeared in the capital city, with Justice Minister Constant Mutamba affirming that any coup against President Tshisekedi would not be tolerated.
The disarray in South Kivu additionally sheds light on the shortcomings of involving the Wazalendo militias, a group often lacking proper training and discipline. A video shared with Reuters showed Wazalendo fighters in Sange distributing rifles seized from the Congolese army to civilians, a situation confirmed by security sources and civil society members.
“The Wazalendo… continue to cause disruptions. The presidency armed various groups, assuming they would support their
ON THE RUN AGAIN
“The retreat from Bukavu without resistance has stirred up strong emotions among the Wazalendo in South Kivu,” noted Congolese researcher Josaphat Musamba, a native of the province. “They are resolute in their determination to engage in combat… They fail to comprehend how the Congolese army could abandon them.”
As per three Congolese military insiders, the decision to withdraw was taken to prevent the bloodshed that accompanied the fall of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, at the end of January, a tragic event where approximately 3,000 lives were lost, as reported by the United Nations. The loss of Kavumu airport to the north of Bukavu to the M23 rebels, along with the aerial assistance it provided, also affected the call to pull back, a general disclosed.
Moreover, a senior officer stationed in the conflict zone, requesting anonymity, mentioned that repeated defeats on the battlefield had left the soldiers demoralized. “The troops were no longer willing to engage in combat. They were fleeing and resorting to looting,” the officer stated.
The low morale and lack of discipline have consistently hindered the Congolese army’s efforts against the M23 since the rebellion erupted in 2022, reigniting a conflict rooted in the genocide of the 1990s in neighboring Rwanda. “Once again, we find ourselves fleeing at the Bukavu stage,” expressed a frustrated soldier in a video showing a large group of troops boarding a truck filled with supplies. “This is the treatment we receive under Tshisekedi’s rule.”
The insurgency has exacerbated an already grave humanitarian crisis in the eastern provinces, with recent clashes destroying emergency shelters, leaving approximately 350,000 displaced individuals without shelter, according to the U.N. refugee agency.
Rwanda has denied allegations from Congo, the United Nations, and Western nations that it is supporting the M23 rebels with arms and military personnel, asserting that it is defending itself against the threat posed by a Hutu militia allegedly collaborating with the Congolese armed forces. Congo, in turn, refutes Rwanda’s accusations and claims that Rwanda has employed proxy militias to exploit its mineral resources.
(Additional information by the Congo newsroom; Written by Alessandra Prentice; Edited by Angus MacSwan)
