As rebel forces advanced toward a major city in the region, home to over a million people and located 30 kilometers (19 miles) away, they seized control of Kavumu Airport. The airport, primarily used for military and humanitarian flights, had been a strategic stronghold for DRC troops. Its capture marked the fall of the last significant military barrier in the area.
UNICEF has raised alarming reports of widespread sexual violence against children in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), perpetrated by armed groups. This grim reality underscores the humanitarian crisis unfolding amid the ongoing conflict.
The M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, encountered little resistance as they moved through the region. According to AFP, Congolese military forces withdrew from the airport and retreated to Bukavu. Additionally, Reuters reported that the rebels gained control of Katana, a town located about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the airport.
This escalation occurs just ahead of the African Union summit, set to begin in Ethiopia on Saturday. The conflict in the DRC is expected to be a central topic at the two-day meeting. Initially, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was scheduled to attend, but the country’s prime minister will now represent the nation instead.
