The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) deployed two Sukhoi-25 jets to the troubled east last weekend after the M23 captured a series of settlements along an important highway leading to Goma. The said warplanes have been reported to start bombardment against the M23 Rebels as they seek to restore peace and clear out areas that have been cutting out certain parts of North Kivu province from the capital Goma.
According to HUMINT in Banagana, they deployed warplanes were heard bombarding the rebel-held Tchanzu area of North Kivu and would continue until the militants are driven out. The bombardments have triggered a mass exodus of refugees with reports indicating that since the recent resurgence of M23 over 3000 people have fled into neighboring Uganda.
M23 is a rebel group that is mostly comprised of the Congolese Tutsi ethnic group and became active in 2012, briefly capturing the main city in eastern DRC, Goma, before being driven out. After lying dormant for years, the group took up arms again in late 2021 claiming the DRC had failed to honor a pledge to integrate them into the army, among other grievances. The group has been capturing territory in North Kivu and has even triggered tensions between DRC and her neighbor Rwanda with the former accusing the latter of supporting the rebels.
