In the news
On 12 February, M23 rebels shut down displacement camps in the city of Goma. The rebels issued a 72-hour ultimatum for displaced people to return to their villages, pushing more than 110,000 people to flee. 

On the same day, M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, stated: "The situation in Bukavu is deteriorating dangerously. Our compatriots are continually being killed and pillaged".  He added: "If these crimes persist, we will take our responsibilities to eradicate the threat at its source and protect our people.”

On 11 February, M23 resumed their attack on the armed forces in South Kivu after a two-day pause in fighting. According to security sources, clashes occurred near the Ihusi village, 70 kilometres from the provincial capital of Bukavu and 40 kilometres from the province's airport. 

On the same day, Al Jazeera reported accounts from residents of displacement camps in Goma, who alleged that an M23 colonel had instructed them to leave within three days. The group refuted these claims, stating that people voluntarily left the Bulengo camp. 

Issues at large
First, escalation since the fall of Goma. After the M23 forces captured Goma, the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, leader, Corneille Nangaa, stated that the troops "will continue the march of liberation all the way to Kinshasa". Although the Congo River Alliance (AFC) announced a unilateral ceasefire on 4 February citing humanitarian reasons, violated it by capturing the mining town of Nyabibwe along Lake Kivu. 

Second, M23's South Kivu interests. On 11 February, violence erupted in the province of South Kivu, three days after leaders of neighbouring countries called for a ceasefire. Controlling Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, would give the rebels full access to Lake Kivu, which borders Rwanda and the region's valuable minerals including gold and oil. 

Third, insufficient regional responses. In response to the escalating crisis, the eight countries of the East African Community (EAC) and the 16-member South African Development Community organised a summit in Tanzania. It additionally called for the opening of humanitarian corridors to evacuate the dead and injured. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi were present at the summit. Although the summit addressed the crisis and directed army chiefs to provide an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” within the next five days, no definitive actions were taken to address the violence. 

Fourth, regional concerns. Burundi’s president Évariste Ndayishimiye has expressed concerns over the escalation of the crisis into a regional war. He stated, "It is not only Burundi, it is Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya — it is the whole region, it is a threat.” The death of 14 South African peacekeepers has led to President Cyril Ramaphosa blaming the Rwanda forces, leading to an onslaught of exchange of threats between the two countries, indicating the possibility of a future altercation. 

Fifth, limited international response. The UN has called for efforts to put an end to the violence and prevent the conflict from spreading across the region. During an emergency meeting of the OHCHR, the High Commissioner, Volker Turk, stated that the "worst may be yet to come,” indicating a possible increase in sexual violence. However, the efforts were limited to calls for ceasefire efforts without any direct measures. The US response to the conflict has worsened civilian suffering in Congo, which was the largest recipient of US humanitarian assistance until 2024, receiving over 70 per cent of aid. According to a UN official, the US withdrawal from the UNHCR and the Trump administration's aid freeze have "severely impacted" humanitarian aid in DR Congo.
 
In perspective
M23’s advance in South Kivu implies that the group is not going to cease violence soon. There is an increasing possibility that the rebels will continue to advance towards Bukavu and the strategic town of Kavumu, which is currently under the control of the Congolese Army. While the rebel forces continue to seize areas, the government has been preoccupied with internal matters. The government has struggled to manage escalating protests, with citizens vandalising embassies and burning the flags of the US and Belgium while accusing them of hypocrisy.