Rebels in the Congo penetrate the second city and loot

Rebels in the Congo penetrate the second city and loot

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

control over the Kavumu Airport

The rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) Heard M23 battle troop, announced on Saturday in a message that she took control of the Kavumu Airport in South-Kivu and forced the government troops in "Chaos" to flee, whereby the city of Bukavu was abandoned.

Unclear about the progress of the rebels

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

previous fights in Goma

The quick advance into the city takes place less than three weeks after the rebels on January 27th the Goma , the largest city and capital of the neighboring province of North-Kivu. According to the government, the fights in Goma between the rebels and the military of the DRC demanded more than 3,000 fatalities.

Rwanda's role in the conflict

The DRC and many western countries accuse the neighboring country of Rwanda to support the M23 rebels, which mainly consist of ethnic Tutsi, which left the Congolese army more than a decade ago. However, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame explained this month that he does not know whether troops in the country in the Are DRC.

since 2022 M23, which indicates the interests of the Rwand-speaking minorities, including the Tutsi, has a new uprising against the government of the DRC and has occupied large areas in North-Kivu, which borders on Rwanda and Uganda.

occupation of resource -rich areas

The M23 now belongs to the AFC rebel alliance and also has resource-rich communities in the east such as nyabibwe and Rubaya adopted one of the largest Coltan occurrence of the world-a valuable mineral that uses in the production of smartphones is.

views of the ceasefire remain unsuccessful

The calls from abroad and from regional leaders after a ceasefire, the rebels could not prevent them from conquering new territory.

rebels take over strategic cities

Victor Tesongo, a spokesman for the AFC rebel alliance, said CNN that the alleged conquest of Goma and Bukavu was the greatest territorial extraction of the group. The cities together have a population of over three million people and are among the most densely populated areas of the DRC.

reactions of the DRC military

A spokesman for the military of the DRC, Sylvain Ekenge Ekenge, said Reuters on Friday that the government troops had left Bukavu after the rebels had occupied the airport. CNN has contacted the DRC authorities to obtain a statement on the allegations of the rebels.

reports on looting

residents reported Reuters that they had seen M23 fighters on the streets, but have not yet witnessed any fights. Other sources informed the news agency that the rebels had not yet entered the center of Bukavu.

"Your uniforms were different. We had been prepared for your visit since the day ... The Fardc (army) was gone. There were no clashes," reported a resident who watched the rebels from her window.

Another Bukavu resident, David Mapendano, said to CNN on Saturday afternoon that he had not yet seen the rebels on the streets, but the city was affected by large looting. "They are looting depots, warehouses and shops," he said and accused fleeing soldiers and civilians of being involved in the looting.

"We have no security," added Mapendano.