The city of Bukavu fell into the hands of the M23 rebels on Friday, February 14, 2025. After taking Kavumu airport, the latter advanced without much resistance towards the city center, causing a wave of panic among the inhabitants. The situation remains uncertain as the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) withdrew from several strategic positions.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) took control of the city of Bukavu, capital of the province of South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on Friday, February 14, 2025 in the evening. This new occupation follows violent clashes that began in Katana, before spreading to Kavumu airport, which the rebels captured around 3 p.m.

M23 advancing toward Bukavu

According to the Bukavu civil society, M23 fighters are now present in the city center and its surroundings, continuing combing operations on the outskirts. This information was confirmed by Jean Chrysostome Nakijana, chairperson of the New Civil Society of Bukavu, who assures that Kavumu airport, located 30 km from Bukavu, is under total control of the M23.

« The capture of Kavumu airport, the second largest in Grand Kivu after Goma, strategically strengthens the position of the rebels, who are continuing their advance in the Kabare territory. »

According to Nakijana, the first signs of a shift in the city appeared in the afternoon : « Around 2 p.m., we observed an unusual movement of the FARDC withdrawing from Kavumu towards Bukavu. Shortly after, we learned that the airport had fallen into the hands of the M23. Within two hours, the rebels were already in the city, without any significant resistance being put up at the entrances to Bukavu. »

A population in the grip of panic

The occupation of Bukavu has plunged the population into fear and uncertainty. A resident of Kadutu, interviewed by SOS Médias Burundi, testifies : « I am cloistered at home. The situation is becoming critical, no one dares to go out. We fear possible bombings. »

Other residents report that the streets are deserted and that most businesses and services have ceased their activities.

Total economic paralysis

The advance of the M23 has led to an almost total halt in economic activities in Bukavu and its surroundings. The public port remained closed all day, according to a fishmonger working on Lake Kivu : « Since this morning, everything has been at a standstill. With the arrival of the M23, fear is visible and no one dares to resume their activities. »

A strategic withdrawal of the FARDC?

On Thursday, February 13, the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and their allies had resisted an initial offensive by the M23 targeting Kavumu airport. However, according to local sources, no confrontation took place when Kavumu fell, as the FARDC withdrew without a fight. Government forces preferred to withdraw in order to protect the civilian population, » explains a witness.

Congolese refugees welcomed in Cibitoke province in northwestern Burundi, February 15, 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)

Other Congolese blame their army for failing to protect the territorial integrity.

« Wherever the M23 goes, our soldiers no longer resist. It would have been honest to say that the city of Bukavu was handed over to the M23 rebels instead of saying that it was retaken by the rebels because there was no fighting, » laments a Congolese woman based in the capital Kinshasa. Her family is in the capital of South Kivu. According to her, « it is shameful to ask hungry, poorly equipped soldiers whose salaries are not regularly paid to resist against highly equipped and disciplined rebels. »

A critical humanitarian situation

After the capture of Goma airport in North Kivu,

, the M23 now controls two major strategic cities in eastern DRC. This occupation threatens to further aggravate the humanitarian crisis for the Kivu populations, already weakened by decades of conflict and forced displacement.

This weekend, several hundred Congolese continued to flee to Burundi, mainly heading to the commercial city of Bujumbura by road, or to Cibitoke province in northwestern Burundi via the river Rusizi, separating the vast Central African country and the small East African nation.

——-

Elements of the M23 at the Rusizi border, between Congo and Rwanda, February 2025 (SOS Médias Burundi)