Kivus on high alert as M23 rebels march on cities 

Members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Fardc) stand guard against the M23 rebel group in Lubero, North Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 27, 2024. 

Photo credit: Reuters

Congolese forces say a major “breakthrough” by M23 rebels has heightened security alerts in major towns in South and North Kivu provinces.

This admission emerged after the M23 gained ground in South Kivu, appending their usual battleground in North Kivu where they have often launched attacks.

It means both provinces will now likely be battlegrounds in the continual war. On Tuesday, the Congolese army, Fardc, acknowledged the rebels' advance in the two eastern provinces.

“The enemy has made a breakthrough on Bweremana in North Kivu and Minova in South Kivu,” said Maj-Gen Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the Congolese army. 

But he also declared that “everywhere, the enemy is registering huge losses in men and materiel.”

Since the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Congolese government and M23, fighting has intensified on several fronts. But Fardc has said that "all measures are being taken to block the path of the aggressor and restore peace to the eastern part of our country.” 

It wasn’t sufficient, especially for civil society groups in eastern DRC who have voiced concerns, warning of an attempt by the rebels to encircle Goma, the capital of North Kivu.

"The M23's strategy is clearly to suffocate the town of Goma. To date, Goma is surrounded by the M23, and the fear is that there will be a shortage of foodstuff, as access routes to the city are blocked," said Lucha, a civil society organisation.

Local media reported that Goma had been isolated by the M23 rebels and was facing a severe humanitarian crisis, as all supply routes are cut off, including the last one, Minova.

The town is in danger of being flocked by teeming masses of displaced civilians, requiring an urgent response to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.

The towns where the rebels have made inroads, Bweremana and Minova, are two major conurbations straddling North and South Kivu, with almost 250,000 inhabitants and displaced persons. 

“Minova is a key commercial port, through which many agricultural products are transported to Goma via Lake Kivu or the road through Masisi," said a source with knowledge of the region. 

Gen Pacifique Masunzu, the new commander of the Third Defence Zone, which covers the eastern provinces of the DRC, arrived in Bukavu, the largest city in South Kivu, on an inspection and command mission, the army said. This is his first visit to the town since being appointed head of the defence zone a month ago.

According to the UN's humanitarian coordination office, Ocha DRC, at least two people have been killed by shells in Minova. Ocha said that several humanitarian activities have since been suspended. 

Minova has recorded "more than 178,000 displaced persons between January 4 and 20, 2025, and at least 113 wounded people were transferred to Goma for emergency treatment."

Local civil society umbrella Coordination Provinciale de la Société Civile Forces Vives du Nord-Kivu denounced "the total distraction characterising the Congolese government” in the face of the deteriorating situation. 

In its press release, the lobby asked President Félix Tshisekedi to "urgently” dispatch the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Defence and the Fardc Chief of General Staff to reorganise the troops and closely monitor the situation on the ground, and to “order the arrest and presentation of all soldiers who flee in the face of the enemy, leaving weapons.”