Nearly 100 police officers from the Democratic Republic of Congo fled to neighboring Uganda over the weekend as fighting between M23 rebels and the Congolese military intensified. The officers arrived at the Ishasha border crossing in Kanungu district, southwestern Uganda, with 43 guns and ammunition, according to Major Kiconco Tabaro, a regional spokesperson for the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. They were disarmed upon arrival.
Tabaro explained, “They were fleeing fighting by M23 and other militias, along with the Congo military. There’s a lot of violence and hunger there.” The conflict in Congo’s east has seen a resurgence in violence, pushing these officers to seek refuge across the border.
In addition to the police officers, at least 2,500 Congolese refugees have fled to Uganda over the past four days, escaping the increasing violence and insecurity. Among the refugees are pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children, all driven by the intensifying conflict.
The M23 has been leading a renewed revolt in Congo’s militia-plagued east since 2022. A United Nations report revealed that the Ugandan army has been accused of supporting the Tutsi-led rebel group, though Uganda denies these allegations. Rwanda has also been accused by the U.N. of backing M23, which has seized large parts of mineral-rich eastern Congo multiple times. Rwanda, however, denies these claims.
Congo’s military has ramped up efforts to push back the rebels over the past year, using drones and aircraft. Despite these efforts, the M23 has continued to expand its territory. In June, the rebels seized Kanyabayonga, a town on high ground, making it a strategic gateway to other parts of North Kivu province in eastern Congo. The ongoing conflict in North Kivu has displaced over 1.7 million people, contributing to a record 7.2 million Congolese displaced by various conflicts, according to U.N. estimates.
The Ugandan government, alongside international aid organizations, is working tirelessly to provide shelter, food, and medical care to the new arrivals. However, the situation remains dire, with resources stretched thin and no immediate end to the conflict in sight.
The United Nations has urged all parties involved in the conflict to respect human rights and to work towards a peaceful resolution. The organization has also called for increased humanitarian aid to support the growing number of displaced people.
