Rebels in Congo advance into second major city and loot

Rebels in Congo advance into second major city and loot

A rebel group has reported that it has advanced into Bukavu, the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Residents reported looting and fighters on the streets.

Control of Kavumu Airport

The rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 combat force, said in a statement on Saturday that it had taken control of Kavumu airport in South Kivu and forced government troops to flee in "chaos", resulting in the abandonment of the city of Bukavu.

Uncertainty about rebel progress

There has been no confirmation from the DRC government and it is unclear how far the rebels have actually advanced in Bukavu, eyewitness reports show.

Previous battles in Goma

The rapid advance into the city comes less than three weeks after the rebels took over on January 27th Control over Goma, the largest city and capital of the neighboring province of North Kivu. The fighting in Goma between the rebels and the DRC military resulted in more than 3,000 deaths, according to the government.

Rwanda's role in the conflict

The DRC and many Western countries accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, made up mostly of ethnic Tutsi who left the Congolese army more than a decade ago. However, Rwandan President Paul Kagame stated this month to CNN that he did not know whether his country's troops were in the DRC.

The ongoing rebel uprising

Since 2022, M23, which says it defends the interests of Rwandan-speaking minorities, including the Tutsi, has waged a renewed insurgency against the DRC government and has occupied large areas in North Kivu, which borders Rwanda and Uganda.

Occupation of resource-rich areas

The M23 is now part of the AFC rebel alliance and also has resource-rich communities in the east such as Nyabibwe and Rubaya which is home to one of the largest deposits of coltan in the world - a valuable mineral used in the production of smartphones.

Calls for a ceasefire remain unsuccessful

Calls from abroad and from regional leaders for a ceasefire have failed to deter the rebels from their quest to conquer new territory.

Rebels take over strategic cities

Victor Tesongo, a spokesman for the AFC rebel alliance, told CNN that the claimed capture of Goma and Bukavu represented the group's biggest territorial gains. The cities have a combined population of over three million people and are among the most densely populated areas in the DRC.

Reactions of the DRC military

A spokesman for the DRC military, Sylvain Ekenge Ekenge, told Reuters on Friday that government troops had left Bukavu after rebels seized the airport. CNN has reached out to DRC authorities for comment on the rebels' claims.

Reports of looting

Residents told Reuters they had seen M23 fighters on the streets but had not yet witnessed any fighting. Other sources told the news agency that the rebels had not yet entered the center of Bukavu.

"Their uniforms were different. We had been prepared for their visit since the day... the FARDC (army) was gone. There were no clashes," said a resident who watched the rebels from her window.

Another Bukavu resident, David Mapendano, told CNN on Saturday afternoon that he had not yet seen the rebels on the streets, but that the city was experiencing widespread looting. "They are looting depots, warehouses and shops," he said, accusing fleeing soldiers and civilians of taking part in the looting.

“We have no security,” Mapendano added.