The advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels into South Kivu province is worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis, with thousands fleeing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the provincial governor warned.
The Tutsi-led rebels have been pushing south since capturing Goma, the capital of North Kivu, late last month. Despite diplomatic efforts, their offensive continues, deepening instability in a region home to large numbers of displaced people.
According to United Nations figures, around 3,000 people were killed in the violent clashes leading up to Goma’s fall. Hospitals remain overwhelmed, aid warehouses have been looted, and humanitarian groups have struggled to operate after non-essential workers were evacuated.
Crisis Deepens in South Kivu
Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, governor of South Kivu, told Reuters that the influx of displaced people from Goma was overwhelming the region’s already limited resources.
“Our fear is that if M23 advances further, we will witness a humanitarian catastrophe,” he said from Bukavu, the provincial capital.
The closure of key transport routes between North and South Kivu has also led to shortages of essential goods, exacerbating the crisis.
Aid Efforts Hit by U.S. Funding Freeze
The latest escalation in the decade-old insurgency has raised concerns of a broader regional conflict, fueled in part by eastern Congo’s vast mineral wealth, which includes cobalt, copper, and gold.
Despite its natural riches, Congo remains heavily dependent on foreign aid. Last year, 70% of humanitarian funding came from the United States, but this support has been severely impacted by a recent aid freeze ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bruno Lemarquis, the top U.N. humanitarian official in Congo, said several aid partners had already suspended their operations.
“Finding alternative funding will be extremely challenging,” he warned from Kinshasa.
Goma Airport Closure Hampers Relief Operations
Goma’s airport remains shut due to security concerns and airspace restrictions imposed by Congolese authorities, further complicating efforts to deliver aid and evacuate the wounded.
“Now that security in the city has improved, we need to bring back staff, but this can’t happen overnight,” Lemarquis said.
Tensions Rise as Ceasefire Collapses
The M23 advance is the latest in a series of Tutsi-led uprisings in eastern Congo since the official end of the region’s wars between 1996 and 2003, which killed millions and drew in multiple neighboring countries.
Congo, the United Nations, and Western governments have accused Rwanda of supplying M23 with troops and weapons—a charge Kigali denies, insisting its actions are in self-defense.
A ceasefire declared by M23 for humanitarian reasons at the start of February has already collapsed. Congo’s government said on Wednesday that its troops had come under repeated attack since last week’s regional summit aimed at de-escalating the conflict.