According to CNN, A rebel coalition has announced its forces have entered Bukavu, the second-largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as residents report widespread looting and armed fighters in the streets.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 armed group, released a statement on Saturday claiming control of Kavumu airport in South Kivu. According to the rebels, government forces were forced to retreat “in disarray, abandoning the city of Bukavu,” the provincial capital.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the DRC government, and eyewitness accounts remain unclear about the extent of the rebels’ control within the city.
Escalating Conflict in Eastern DRC
This rapid advance comes just weeks after the rebels claimed to have seized Goma, the largest city and capital of neighboring North Kivu province, on January 27.
Fighting in Goma between the rebels and the Congolese military has resulted in over 3,000 deaths, according to government reports.
The DRC, along with several Western nations, accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 group, which is predominantly composed of ethnic Tutsi fighters who defected from the Congolese army over a decade ago. Rwandan President Paul Kagame recently told CNN he was unaware of any Rwandan troops operating in the DRC.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Since 2022, M23 has reignited its rebellion, claiming to defend the interests of minority Rwandophone communities, including the Tutsi population. The group has taken control of significant territory in North Kivu, which borders Rwanda and Uganda.
As part of the AFC alliance, M23 has also seized resource-rich areas in eastern DRC, including Nyabibwe and Rubaya. These regions contain vast deposits of coltan, a crucial mineral used in smartphone production.
Despite repeated calls for a ceasefire from international and regional leaders, the rebels continue their territorial expansion.
Victor Tesongo, an AFC spokesperson, described the claimed takeover of Goma and Bukavu as the alliance’s most significant territorial gain. With a combined population exceeding three million, the two cities rank among the most densely populated in the DRC.
Reports of Looting and Military Withdrawal
A DRC military spokesperson, Sylvain Ekenge Ekenge, told Reuters that government forces withdrew from Bukavu after the rebels took control of the airport. CNN has reached out to Congolese authorities for further comments on the situation.
While some residents reported seeing M23 fighters in the streets, they noted an absence of active combat. One Bukavu resident told Reuters, “Their uniforms were different. We had been prepared since daytime for their arrival … the FARDC (Congolese army) had already left. There were no clashes.”
Another resident, David Mapendano, told CNN that he had not yet encountered rebel forces directly but confirmed widespread looting across the city.
“They are looting depots, warehouses, and commercial buildings,” he said, blaming both fleeing soldiers and civilians for the chaos.
“We have no security,” Mapendano added, highlighting the deepening instability in Bukavu.