DNE Africa – M23 rebels are rapidly advancing in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, coming within 60 kilometres of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, following their capture of the regional hub of Goma, the UN reported Friday. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix described the rebels' movement as "quite fast" during a press briefing. The advance follows M23's capture of several towns after seizing Goma, a crucial humanitarian hub for some six million people displaced by the conflict. The UN also expressed concern over reported executions carried out by the rebels amid an escalation of their long-running rebellion in the mineral-rich region. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said an assessment conducted by the World Health Organisation and partners with the DR Congo government between 26-30 January "report[ed] that 700 people have been killed and 2,800 injured" in and around Goma. "These numbers are expected to rise as more information becomes available," he added. The UN has approximately 1,200 international and national staff and dependents in Bukavu. As a precaution, some personnel are being relocated, Dujarric confirmed. The capture of Goma has halted humanitarian operations, "cutting off a vital lifeline for aid delivery across eastern (DR Congo)," stated Rose Tchwenko, country director for Mercy Corps in DR Congo. "The escalation of violence toward Bukavu raises fears of even greater displacement, while the breakdown of humanitarian access is leaving entire communities stranded without support." The Southern African Development Community (SADC), of which DR Congo is a member, resolved Friday to maintain its peacekeeping force in eastern DR Congo throughout 2023. SADC chairman, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, called for increased support for the force. At their summit in Harare, the 16-nation bloc also committed to working towards a ceasefire. The SADC called for dialogue among all parties to restore peace and security in the region. It expressed concern over the worsening security and humanitarian situation, condemning M23's attacks on SADCMission in the DRC troops as violations of the July 2024 Luanda Process ceasefire. The regional body also appealed for the immediate restoration of essential services such as water, electricity, communications and food supply lines. President Mnangagwa urged the international community to increase humanitarian assistance and support peace and security efforts. He emphasised the duty of all member states to strive for lasting peace and urged all parties to the conflict to embrace dialogue. France circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution on Friday urging a halt to the offensive, withdrawal of "foreign elements", and a resumption of talks for a cessation of hostilities, according to French UN Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere, who expressed hope for its swift adoption. The M23 group, backed by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops according to UN experts, is considered the most powerful of over 100 armed groups vying for control of Congo's mineral-rich east. This backing is significantly larger than in 2012 when M23 briefly held Goma. Congolese military bases in Bukavu were reportedly being emptied Thursday to reinforce positions along the route to the provincial capital, according to residents. Hundreds of young people registered as military volunteers in Bukavu on Friday, following President Félix Tshisekedi's call for mass mobilisation. Maj. Gen. Somo Kakule Evariste, newly appointed governor of North Kivu, vowed upon taking office Friday to return to Goma "as soon as possible" to restore government control. "This is not the time for speeches," he said. "The flame of resistance will never be extinguished." In Goma, Lacroix reported a "tense and volatile situation," though calm is gradually returning with the restoration of water and electricity. The airport remains closed with an unusable runway. UN peacekeepers continue to deal with unexploded ordnance which is restricting movement, he added. "We are going to struggle until we restore democracy," said Corneille Nangaa, a political leader of M23. "From a failed state to a modern state." Lt. Gen. Pacifique Masunzu, commander of a key military defence zone in South Kivu, reported that security forces repelled a rebel attack in Kalehe territory, roughly 140 kilometres from Bukavu, on Thursday. DR Congo's military has been weakened following the loss of personnel and the surrender of foreign mercenaries after Goma's fall. In Goma, Lacroix described the situation as "tense and volatile" with sporadic shooting, but noted a gradual restoration of calm, water, and electricity, though the airport remains closed. Unexploded ordnance continues to impede movement, he said.
