The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a deepening crisis as President Félix Tshisekedi cuts short his overseas visit in response to escalating violence in the eastern region.
The March 23 Movement (M23), an armed group active in the region, has claimed control of Kavumu Airport, a key strategic location near Bukavu. This development has heightened concerns about the group’s growing influence and the potential for further instability.
Tshisekedi, who was attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany, has decided to return early. His return comes after the M23 announced its capture of the airport, which serves as an important military and humanitarian hub in South Kivu Province.
M23 spokesperson Laurence Kanyuka stated that the airport and its surroundings are now under the group’s control. He justified the move by claiming that the airport posed a threat to civilians in areas already under M23 occupation.
The seizure of Kavumu Airport is particularly alarming because it acts as the final defensive line before Bukavu, a major city in the eastern DRC. The city is located just 30 kilometres from the airport, and reports suggest that M23 forces are advancing rapidly toward it.
Despite earlier assurances from the group that it had no intention of taking Bukavu, its recent actions have sparked panic among residents.
Tshisekedi addressed the situation during a panel discussion in Munich, expressing frustration over the international response to the conflict.
He stated that the DRC had been “attacked in an ostentatious manner” while the global community remained largely indifferent. He warned that this lack of reaction called into question the legitimacy of international law.
The situation in the eastern DRC has been deteriorating for weeks. M23 previously claimed to have seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on January 26.
More recently, the group has captured multiple towns in South Kivu, raising concerns about a full-scale takeover of key cities.
Reports from the region indicate that Congolese soldiers and their allies are retreating toward Uvira, a strategic location near the Burundian border, while M23 fighters continue their advance.
Local civil society groups have urged authorities to avoid combat in Bukavu, warning that heavy fighting in the city could result in significant civilian casualties. The DRC government has yet to announce a concrete plan to counter the latest M23 offensive.
Tshisekedi’s decision to return early has also led to a shift in diplomatic engagements. His spokesperson confirmed that he would no longer attend the African Union (AU) Summit in Ethiopia, with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka representing the DRC in his place.
This marks another high-profile absence for the president, who has also skipped recent regional meetings aimed at addressing the ongoing crisis.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council was expected to discuss the situation in the DRC in a high-level meeting in Addis Ababa. A press conference was scheduled to follow the discussions. However, there is no indication that immediate action will be taken to de-escalate the conflict.
The roots of the M23 rebellion trace back to long-standing ethnic tensions and conflicts in the region. The group initially emerged in 2012 and has since been accused of committing widespread human rights violations.
The DRC government has repeatedly accused neighbouring Rwanda of supporting M23, a charge that Rwanda has denied. Kigali, in turn, has accused the Congolese army of backing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a rebel group accused of participating in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
As the violence escalates, the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC continues to worsen. Since January 26, the United Nations estimates that over 3,000 people have been killed, nearly 3,000 wounded, and more than 500,000 displaced.
This adds to an already dire situation, with more than 6.4 million people internally displaced due to ongoing conflicts in the region.
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