M23 rebels have captured a strategic airport in South Kivu, further tightening their grip on the region.
As the Congolese government struggles to contain the offensive, President Félix Tshisekedi has turned to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for intervention, accusing the rebels of war crimes and seeking global justice.
The fall of South Kivu’s airport marks a significant strategic victory for M23, a rebel group accused of receiving support from neighbor Rwanda, an allegation Kagame has repeatedly denied.
The airport’s capture means rebels now control a key transportation hub, making it even harder for the Congolese military to launch counterattacks.
According to M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the group now controls the airport and its surrounding areas, positioning itself just 30 kilometres north of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
“As we have repeatedly stressed, we have eliminated the threat at the source. Kavumu airport posed a danger to the civilian population in the liberated areas and our positions,” Kanyuka said.
“From now on, Kavumu and its surroundings, including the airport, are under the control of the AFC/M23,” he added.
As the battlefield shifts in favor of the rebels, President Tshisekedi has formally requested the ICC to investigate M23 for war crimes.
This move signals Kinshasa’s desperation to bring global attention to the conflict, as military efforts alone have failed to stop the rebel advance.
The ICC’s involvement could lead to international warrants against M23’s leadership, but legal action is unlikely to halt their territorial expansion in the short term.
The crisis has once again ignited tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of backing M23 rebels a claim Rwanda denies.
With M23 controlling critical areas in eastern Congo, including a major airport, and Tshisekedi seeking ICC intervention, the conflict has reached a dangerous turning point.
