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Burundi has withdrawn its forces from eastern DRC, where they had been fighting alongside Congolese government troops against M23 rebels
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Goma
The ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying, with Burundi withdrawing its forces, Uganda sending troops into Bunia, and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advancing on a third major city. Analysts fear the situation could escalate into a repeat of the Second Congo War (1998-2003), which involved multiple African nations and resulted in millions of deaths due to violence, disease, and starvation.
Burundi pulls out amid M23 gains
Burundi has withdrawn its forces from eastern DRC, where they had been fighting alongside Congolese government troops against M23 rebels. The withdrawal comes as DRC’s army struggles to contain M23’s advance, raising concerns about the stability of the region.
The move follows reports from the UN human rights office that M23 rebels have executed children and committed atrocities during their military campaign.
"A number of trucks filled with Burundian troops arrived in the country since yesterday," a Burundian army officer confirmed, an account corroborated by two UN sources and an African diplomat.
Burundian soldiers had recently fought to defend Kavumu, home to the Bukavu airport in South Kivu province, but the area fell to M23 rebels over the weekend—one of the group's most significant victories since capturing Goma in January 2025.
Burundi has maintained a military presence in eastern DRC for years, initially targeting Burundian rebel groups but more recently assisting in the fight against M23.
Uganda Deploys Troops in Eastern DRC
Meanwhile, Uganda has sent troops into the town of Bunia to combat local militias, according to Ugandan military spokesman Felix Kulayigye.
"We have deployed our troops in Bunia," Kulayigye stated.
"There were massacres being committed by some militia groups, and we agreed with our Congolese counterparts to conduct joint operations to save lives."
Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, already hosts thousands of Ugandan troops, primarily engaged in operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), one of 120 armed groups wreaking havoc in eastern DRC.
However, Uganda has faced accusations—from UN experts and other sources—of supporting M23 rebels and controlling some of DRC’s mineral wealth. Uganda has strongly denied these allegations.
M23 rebels advance on third major city
Buoyed by recent territorial gains, M23 rebels are now believed to be moving toward Butembo, a city of over 150,000 people.
"We're afraid the enemy will advance to Butembo," said Auguste Kombi, a civil society leader in Kitsombiro, a town along the route.
He added that DRC army positions in the area were under attack on Tuesday morning, leading to rapidly deteriorating security.
M23 forces are now advancing both north and south of Goma, a city of over 2 million people, which the rebels captured last month, killing about 3,000 people. Earlier this week, the group seized another provincial capital, Bukavu, near Burundi.
The UN estimates that M23 is backed by 4,000 Rwandan troops, and the rebels have at times vowed to march as far as Kinshasa, 1,600 km away.
"We are in danger of experiencing a situation similar to that in Goma, with loss of human lives," warned Kambale Nyuliro, a government official in Kitsombiro.
He noted that Lubero town, en route to Butembo, was surrounded on three sides by M23 fighters but remains under DRC army control. "Since the fighting began, the enemy has only advanced," he added.
Unlike their brief capture of Goma in 2012, analysts say M23 rebels are now eyeing political power. Their appointed mayor of Goma announced plans for a population census, a sign they intend to govern the captured city. Ferry service has also resumed between Goma and Bukavu, currently the only way to travel between the two cities.
Regional accusations and rising atrocities
Rwanda has accused the Congolese government of recruiting ethnic Hutu fighters responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide, claiming M23 is fighting to protect Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent. However, analysts argue these claims are merely pretexts for Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict.
On Tuesday, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of killing children, attacking hospitals, and looting humanitarian aid warehouses.
His statement confirmed reports of summary executions of children by M23 rebels after they entered Bukavu last week. "We are also aware that some children were armed," Turk added, though he did not provide specific details. Both M23 rebels and Congolese forces have previously been accused of recruiting child soldiers, according to UN agencies.
Fears of another regional war
With M23 rebels consolidating power, Burundi pulling out, and Uganda deploying troops, many fear that eastern DRC is on the verge of a broader conflict—one that could mirror the Second Congo War (1998-2003), which drew in multiple African nations and caused millions of deaths.
For now, the future of eastern DRC hangs in the balance, as regional powers maneuver, militias gain ground, and civilians bear the brunt of escalating violence.
Agencies
