Demand for Minister of Defense and Chief of Army Staff in South Kivu after Minova Incident
The Coordination Provinciale de la Société Civile Forces Vives du Nord-Kivu has urgently called for military and government authorities to intervene in response to the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This deterioration is marked by the advancements of M23 fighters supported by Rwanda (M23-RDF). In a statement released on January 21, the civil society expressed “consternation” following the capture of the strategic city of Minova in the Kalehe territory of South Kivu. This advancement follows fierce fighting in the hills of Masisi in the neighboring province of North Kivu. Minova, located on the shores of Lake Kivu, is a crucial point for the logistics and supply of the city of Goma.
Urgent Call for Intervention
The civil society is urging President Félix Tshisekedi to urgently dispatch the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and the Chief of General Staff of the FARDC to the field, accompanied by the necessary logistical support to reorganize the troops. They are also calling for increased monitoring of the behaviors of soldiers and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP), who are accused of harassment and distractions on strategic roadways.
Growing Concerns and Humanitarian Crisis
The capture of Minova has raised concerns about a possible encirclement of Goma and Sake, where enemy forces could disrupt navigation on Lake Kivu, one of the main supply routes. This situation exacerbates the humanitarian crisis as thousands of displaced individuals flee combat zones. The civil society is urging international bodies like the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, and the United States to pressure Rwanda to cease its aggression on Congolese soil and prioritize a diplomatic solution to restore peace.
Despite the ongoing battles on all fronts, the Congolese army has assured in a statement that the enemy is suffering significant losses in personnel and equipment. While they claim to contain M23 advancements in Lubero, Sake, and Nyiragongo, they acknowledge an enemy breakthrough in Minova and Bweremana. The army has called for calm among the population and to resist misinformation campaigns spread on social media by the enemy, reaffirming their commitment to bringing peace to the eastern DRC.