Goma: Rebel group M23 has said it captured hundreds of soldiers from Burundi during its latest offensive in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, deepening fears of a wider regional crisis and a growing humanitarian emergency.
The group said the soldiers were seized during intense fighting near the border town of Uvira in South Kivu province. M23 called on Burundi to withdraw its forces from Congolese territory and formally seek the return of those it says are being held. Burundi has not publicly confirmed the claim.
The renewed offensive has pushed Congolese government troops to retreat from several areas, allowing M23 to tighten its control over strategic locations close to the borders with Burundi and Rwanda. Uvira is a key trading hub on Lake Tanganyika and its loss has raised serious concerns among regional leaders.
The conflict has also triggered a fresh wave of civilian displacement. Aid groups estimate that tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in recent days, moving toward safer areas or across borders to escape the fighting. Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières said it had suspended some operations in South Kivu because of security risks, leaving many communities without basic health services.
International pressure has increased as the violence escalates. The United States has accused Rwanda of backing M23 and undermining recent peace efforts, a claim Rwanda continues to deny. Diplomatic sources say the latest clashes have weakened already fragile agreements aimed at ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.
The fighting highlights the fragile security situation in a mineral rich region that has been scarred by decades of armed violence. With no ceasefire in sight, humanitarian agencies warn that the civilian toll is likely to rise unless regional actors and international partners succeed in reviving meaningful dialogue and easing tensions.