A boat carrying people fleeing an M23 rebel offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) capsized on Wednesday night, killing 22 people, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The ship was carrying passengers from Vitshumbi, on the southern shore of Lake Edward, to Virunga National Park on the northern side of the lake when the accident occurred, said Delphin Malekani, head of a local civil society group in Kyavinonge. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the incident. Eight survivors have been rescued.
Fleeing Conflict Amid Rising Instability
According to UN experts, most of the victims were civilians trying to escape the advance of the M23 rebels, a group backed by neighboring Rwanda. The rebels, part of a wider conflict involving more than 100 armed groups in eastern Congo, have been steadily gaining ground.
Earlier this week, M23 fighters seized Bukavu, a strategic provincial capital south of Goma, close to the Burundi border. The area is rich in coltan, a key mineral used in gold and electronics. Analysts suggest the rebels are now seeking political control rather than a temporary occupation, as seen in their brief takeover of Goma in 2012.
The group’s leadership has already begun asserting its authority, with the rebel-appointed mayor of Goma announcing plans to conduct a census. Ferries have also resumed between Goma and Bukavu, currently the only viable travel route between the two cities.
Dangerous Crossings in Unstable Waters
With ongoing fighting between Congolese forces and rebel groups often making roads impassable, many civilians are resorting to unsafe boat travel despite the risks.
Lake Edward has been under a ferry ban since March 2024, but desperate residents continue to use unreliable, illegal means of transport to escape the violence. The overloaded wooden boats often used on such crossings have led to a number of fatal accidents, with hundreds of people killed or missing in similar incidents this year.