Goma, February 15, 2025 the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) has announced its takeover of Kavumu Airport in South Kivu, citing efforts to prevent the Forces Armées de la Republique Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and allied groups from using the facility for military operations. This development follows intensified clashes between the rebel group and Congolese government forces in the region.
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According to an official communiqué released by the AFC on February 15, the move was aimed at stopping FARDC and its allies including the Burundian National Defense Forces (FNDB), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and Wazalendo military from launching attacks on civilian populations. The AFC claims that the Congolese military and its allies conducted airstrikes on February 12, targeting the populations of Kalehe and Ihusi, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
Following their defeat, FARDC and allied forces reportedly retreated in disarray, abandoning Bukavu after engaging in widespread looting and abuses. The AFC has called on the residents of Bukavu to organize local vigilance committees to maintain order and security, urging the population to remain calm. The Movement reaffirmed its commitment to defending the city against potential FARDC counterattacks.
“The people of Bukavu must appoint honest and responsible individuals to lead them and ensure stability in their city,” the communiqué stated. The AFC further warned against panic, asserting that they would protect civilians from any returning government forces.
In addition to securing key strategic locations, the AFC has issued a demand for the immediate withdrawal of Burundian troops from Congolese territory, particularly in areas such as Nkomo, Nyangezi, and the Ruzizi Plain. The rebel group denounced the presence of Burundian forces as unjustified, blaming them for exacerbating ethnic tensions, human rights abuses, and a deepening humanitarian crisis in the eastern DRC.
“The military operations conducted by Burundian forces have led to mass atrocities and ethnic cleansing,” the AFC alleged, calling for their immediate return to Burundi.
The capture of Kavumu Airport marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The region has long been plagued by violence involving multiple armed groups, foreign military interventions, and struggles for territorial control. The presence of Burundian forces in eastern Congo has been a contentious issue, with reports of increasing tensions between Movement factions and regional military coalitions.
The situation in Bukavu remains volatile as AFC forces consolidate their control. Meanwhile, concerns persist over potential counteroffensives by the Congolese government and its allies, as well as the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
As the security crisis deepens, international observers are closely monitoring developments in eastern DRC, with calls for diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation and protect civilian lives.
