By Marc Matabaro
At 12:00 PM on Friday, February 14, 2025, M23 fighters and their allies from the Rwandan army entered Kavumu without encountering any resistance. According to multiple sources, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and their allies chose to withdraw to avoid a bloodbath among the local population.
The M23 and their Rwandan allies now control Kavumu Airport, a strategic location in South Kivu, after seizing Goma Airport in North Kivu. Kavumu Airport, located about thirty kilometers from Bukavu, is a crucial point for troop deployment and supply logistics. Local populations, concerned about the situation, report a complete absence of forces capable of opposing this advance.
Transportation between Kavumu and Bukavu has been disrupted due to a lack of available means. Reports indicate that the M23 and their allies have managed to progress swiftly thanks to vehicles and equipment recovered in Goma, as well as Rwandan infiltrations via Lake Kivu. The capture of these strategic infrastructures places the rebels in a position of strength, allowing them to tighten their grip on the region.
This morning, rebels were seen in Katana Center before reaching Kavumu. Despite a unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the M23, military operations continued. Sources confirm that M23 elements also moved toward the Addi Kivu military camp, located in the Businde district.
Meanwhile, in Goma, the situation has deteriorated. The city is experiencing increasing insecurity characterized by theft, rape, and burglaries. The widespread availability of weapons and the escape of nearly 4,000 detainees from Munzenze prison have worsened the crisis. Several sources report that some M23 combatants are also involved in these crimes. Chris, a young entrepreneur and mobile phone vendor, was shot dead last night in Goma.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has decided to cut short his stay in Munich, where he was attending the Security Conference. He canceled his participation in the African Union summit in Addis Ababa to return urgently to Kinshasa. This decision comes as the Congolese army continues to lose ground to the M23 rebels backed by Kigali.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is also trying to retaliate diplomatically. Kinshasa has sent a letter to the National Basketball Association (NBA), demanding the termination of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) sponsorship contracts with Rwandan entities, including Visit Rwanda and RwandAir. This move is part of a broader strategy to pressure Kigali through economic and international means.
As the war continues, Congolese diplomacy appears to be faltering. An analyst from Goma, who requested anonymity for security reasons, criticizes the inefficiency of verbal condemnations from the Congolese government. According to him, the control of Goma and Kavumu airports by the M23 and their allies places them in a strong position, enabling them to secure all necessary supplies with ease.
In this context, Angola has decided to withdraw from its role as a mediator in the conflict. President João Lourenço, who is set to assume the presidency of the African Union on February 15, 2025, stated that continuing this mission would be incompatible with his new responsibilities. This decision comes as tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali intensify, with Rwanda now favoring direct negotiations between the Congolese government and the rebels while excluding external mediation.
Meanwhile, a section of the Congolese political class seems more focused on personal interests than on defending the country’s territorial integrity. Some opposition members, hoping to benefit from President Tshisekedi’s weakening, adopt an opportunistic stance without fully grasping Kigali’s true intentions. As an informed observer notes, Paul Kagame does not sacrifice his soldiers to establish democracy in the DRC but to gradually annex Kivu, much like Vladimir Putin did with Donbas in Ukraine.
Therwandan
