M23's arrival has been welcomed by some in Bukavu, who hope the rebels will restore order
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels advanced on Sunday into the centre of Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, meeting little resistance from government troops, witnesses and the armed group said.
M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma told Reuters the militia was in the city and posted a photo on the X social media platform of a group of fighters posing in the provincial capital’s central Independence Square.The rebels’ rapid advance since the start of the year and the involvement of troops from neighbouring countries have stoked fears of a broader regional war in a conflict rooted in tensions over power, identity and resources dating back to the 1990s Rwandan genocide.
Videos verified by Reuters showed M23 fighters in fatigues parading and speaking to locals in Independence Square and outside the provincial governor’s office. Some locals welcomed the rebels with cheers and applause. The soldiers’ gradual departure in recent days led to a power vacuum, triggering looting and a prison break on Saturday.
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