M23 rebel advance causes mass displacement in South Kivu
In early June 2026, escalating ground clashes in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo forced an estimated 15,000 civilians to flee their homes. According to a June 9 update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the displaced population sought urgent refuge in the Miti-Murhesa health zone. The mass displacement was triggered by the rapid territorial advances of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group operating in the eastern DRC.
Date: June 8, 2026
Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Conflict: M23 Rebellion
Category: ground battle
Severity: HIGH
Displaced: 15,000
Source: OCHA