After taking control of Goma, the largest eastern city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, M23 rebels – who are backed by Rwanda – are reportedly moving towards Bukavu in southern Kivu.
M23 is part of the political-military group Congo River Alliance (Alliance Fleuve Congo), whose commander, Corneille Nangaa, says his forces intend to advance all the way to Kinshasa to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. Nangaa previously led the DRC’s Electoral Commission, which oversaw the controversial and delayed 2018 elections that brought Tshisekedi into power.
His plan faces the challenge of the Congo’s vast size – roughly the same as that of Western Europe. The Alliance would need to advance 2,600 km (1,600 miles) to reach Kinshasa.
Meanwhile, Rwanda is facing increasing international pressure to stop supporting the M23 and pull its troops out of Congo.
In a televised address after Goma’s capture, President Tshisekedi announced that a “robust and coordinated response” is underway to reclaim territory from the rebels. “Rest assured, the Democratic Republic of Congo will not allow itself to be humiliated or defeated. We will resist and we will prevail,” he stated on 29 January.
According to the UN, half a million Congolese have been displaced in January alone, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. The ongoing resource conflict in the country has displaced over 7-million people, resulted in more than 6-million deaths and been marked by horrific sexual and human-rights violations.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn1k9nleno
https://globaldashboard.org/2011/12/06/how-big-is-the-congo-very-big/
https://www.voanews.com/a/five-things-to-know-about-dr-congo/6941146.html
https://www.caritas.org/2010/02/six-million-dead-in-congos-war/