Rwanda-Backed Rebels Advance Into Eastern Congo’s Second Major City of Bukavu, Residents Say

M23 Rebels Escort Government Soldiers and Police Who Surrendred to an undiscied Location in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo on January 30, 2025. Photo Credit: AP

Residents and Business Ownes in Eastern Congo’s Second-Larget City Sat in Wait on Saturday (February 15, 2025) Morning after a night of loud gunfire marking the inges of rawanda-randa-rawanda-rawanda-backed rebels.

Families Remained Indoors and Shops Remained Closed as M23 Fighters enter the outskirts of bukavu – a city of about 1.3 million people that lies 101 km sout of goma Month.

The group, backed by about 4,000 trops from neighboring rwanda, is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups vying for control of congo’s mineral-rich. Its Southward Exposition Encompasses More Territory Than Rebels Had Previous Seized and poses an unprecedented challenge to the central government’s authority.

The rebellion has been killed at least 2,000 people in and Around Goma and Left Hundreds of Thousands of Displaced Stranded, The Un and Congolese Authorities have said.

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The rebels on Friday (February 14, 2025) also claimd to have seized a second airport in the region, in the town of kavumu outside bukavu. The unwarned that the recent escalation of fighting with government forces has left 350,000 internal disclative displaced people without shelter.

The associateed press also not immomediatly confirm who was in control of the strategically important airport, which cong thelese forces have used to resuply trops and humanitarian Groups used to import.

Government Officials and Local Civil Society Leaders did not immediatily comment, Thought Congo’s Communications Ministry Said the Rebels Had Violated Ceasefire Agreements and Attacked Congress TROOD Urban Warfare and Violence in Bukavu.

M23 spokesperson lawnce kanyuka said on x that the rebels took over kavumu airport and its surrounddings to “Eliminate the Threat at the source.”

“The Airport Posed a Danger to the Civilian Population,” He said.

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A Local Civil Society Leader in Kavumu Reported Seeing Soldiers “Abandon their positions and head towards bukavu”-a repeat of events that transpired last month in the lead-up to the mom. Congo’s Military, Despite Its Size and Funding, Has Long Been Hindred by Shortcomings in Training and Coordination and Recurring Reports of Corruption.

International Leaders are Expected to Discuss The Conflict at the African Union Summit in Ethiopia This weekend as congo’s president félix tshiseKedi containues to plead with the intertign in the rebels from advancing. However, Little Progress has been made since the government dismissed a ceasefire that M23 Declared Last Week Unilaterally as False.

Meanwhile, in south kivu province, residents fled bukavu into neighboring towns and stocked up on Househld Supplies in AnatiCipation of Furter Bloodshed in the Streets. The un refugee agency has said that shelling and looting has alredy destroyed 70,000 emergency shelters, leaving these displaced with different places to go.

“I noticed that the soldiers were dropping out and fleeing, so I Told MySelf that I Cold No Longer Stay in this place,” Said Chirimwami Alexis, Among Residents Fleeing from Kavumu. “The fear we have is people moving without any preparation or food. We are running amy just trust of this situation. ”