Clashes have erupted south of Bukavu after government forces withdrew from the eastern Congolese city, triggering resistance from pro-government militias opposed to the pullback, military and local sources said.
The retreat, aimed at avoiding urban combat with advancing M23 rebels backed by Rwanda, quickly descended into chaos as allied militias, known as the Wazalendo, refused to follow orders. Instead, they attempted to block fleeing soldiers, leading to firefights in towns along the N5 road, far from the front line.
“Just this morning, there was gunfire from Kamanyola to Uvira,” a community leader told Reuters on Monday. “Villages along the road are emptying as people flee.”
Strategic Withdrawal or Collapse?
The army’s decision to abandon Bukavu—Congo’s second-largest eastern city after Goma—marks another major setback in the military’s struggle against the M23 insurgency. While direct clashes with the rebels were largely avoided, the disorderly retreat has raised fears of broader instability, including a potential coup against President Félix Tshisekedi.
“It’s total chaos,” said a civil society leader in Kamanyola, describing the breakdown of military discipline and rising tensions with the Wazalendo, who accuse the army of abandoning the fight.
The loss of Kavumu airport, a key military base north of Bukavu, played a critical role in the retreat, according to military officials. The withdrawal decision was also influenced by the carnage seen in late January when Goma fell to the rebels, resulting in an estimated 3,000 deaths.
Disorder and Allegations of Looting
Footage shared with Reuters appeared to show Wazalendo fighters in the town of Sange distributing rifles to civilians from the back of a seized military truck. While Reuters could not verify the video, security sources confirmed that such an incident occurred.
“The Wazalendo… they just keep messing up,” a senior Congolese army general said, speaking anonymously. “The presidency armed them, thinking they would serve its cause.”
One soldier, seen in a separate video climbing onto a truck filled with supplies, voiced frustration over the retreat. “At Bukavu, we flee again,” he said. “This is how we are treated under Tshisekedi’s regime.”
Regional and Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, claims to be fighting for political rights but is widely believed to be backed by Rwanda, an allegation Kigali denies. The insurgency has reignited long-standing regional tensions and displaced hundreds of thousands, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.
The United Nations refugee agency estimates that recent fighting has left 350,000 displaced people without shelter. Meanwhile, concerns are growing that Congo’s mineral-rich east—home to vast deposits of tantalum, cobalt, and copper—could become the battleground for a wider conflict involving Uganda and Rwanda.
Justice Minister Constant Mutamba took to social media Sunday to address growing concerns over instability in the capital. “Tshisekedi was elected for a five-year term. We will not accept any coup,” he posted on X.
For now, as M23 consolidates its grip on eastern Congo, the government faces mounting pressure to regain control—both on the battlefield and within its own ranks.
