A new intervention force from southern Africa is supposed to defeat the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. They themselves go on the offensive.

Determined to fight: M23 rebels on a road near Kibumba, north of Goma, December 2023 Photo: Arlette Bashizi/Reuters

KAMPALA taz | With a major offensive by a new southern African intervention force, the war in eastern DRC is entering a new round. Late last week, some 300 Tanzanian soldiers landed in Goma, capital of the eastern Congo province. They are stationed there along with troops from South Africa and Malawi as part of a mandate from the regional organization SADC (South African Development Community) and must actively support the Congolese army in its actions against the M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels. .

From the international airport in Goma, Tanzanian troops headed on Friday in trucks directly to the west, to the front: to the small town of Sake, 24 kilometers away, where the Masisi mountains and, therefore, the area of war. Urgency was the order of the day. Together with Congolese troops, mercenaries from Eastern Europe and a coalition of local militias created by the Congolese government – called Wazalendo (Patriots) – they attempted to defend Sake from M23 attacks over the weekend.

Sake has strategic importance. From the small town, several roads lead to the Masisi Mountains, where the M23 rebels are based, and along the western shore of Lake Kivu south to the neighboring province of South Kivu, for deliveries of goods and military supplies used by the Congolese government. Of great importance is the Kavumu airport, which connects with Bukavu, the capital of the province of South Kivu.

The Tutsi rebels of the M23, under the command of their leader Sultani Makenga, are trying to take this road to cut off the supply routes of the Congolese army, as M23 sources confirm to the taz. The objective is to completely surround the city of Goma and its surroundings as far as Sake, so that Goma can only be reached by air or lake and SADC troops cannot advance from there towards the Masisi Mountains.

Apparently successful: According to information from M23, on Sunday a convoy with soldiers from Burundi was ambushed on the South Kivu highway. “It's sad that no one survived!” he said. The military spokesperson of the M23, Willy Manzi, on X. The Congolese government has also hired Burundian troops to support the army against the M23.

Rwanda increases support for rebels

The M23 rebels had already suffered serious blows before. A Congolese army combat drone hit a vehicle in the Masisi mountains containing the M23 intelligence chief, known by his nom de guerre Castro, and the M23 officer responsible for military operations, Erasto Bahati. Both died, which was a severe blow to the rebels.

“We have understood the message and we will respond accordingly,” the M23 leadership then announced and launched its new offensive. According to UN investigators, Rwanda has again sent troops to the Congo to help the M23. Rwanda and Burundi now face each other indirectly on Congolese territory.

Panic broke out in Goma on Friday as rumors spread that more Rwandan troops were about to re-enter the country. People in Goma remember how the M23 first surrounded the city in 2012 and then took it in a surprise attack.

Protests and calls for peace

The military government of North Kivu has ordered that motorcycle taxis and minibuses will no longer be allowed to operate in Goma after 5 p.m. This is almost equivalent to a curfew in this sprawling city of millions of people. Motorcyclists and taxi drivers in Goma protested against this on Monday morning.

As the war enters a new violent round, the Catholic Church is trying to mediate in the region. The Congolese Archbishop of Kinshasa, Fridolin Ambongo, arrived from Kinshasa at the weekend and celebrated a mass for peace in Goma on Sunday. Representatives of the Church from Rwanda and Burundi also came.

in his sermon Archbishop Ambongo called on all actors at all levels to “show more humanity” to end the war. “Even if you don't like the other party's demands, make sure you listen to them,” he said.