M23 rebels have made an advance into eastern Congo’s strategic city of Bukavu, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Reports indicate that the rebel group infiltrated the city with little to no resistance from Congolese troops.
Rebel commander Bernard Byamungu told Reuters the M23 has had the city under its control for nearly 48 hours.
The Rwanda-backed rebels have been seeking to seize the commercial hub since taking the city of Goma in late January. The capture of Bukavu is expected to bring a force-stop to many business operations especially between them and Kinhasa-the capital.
The Congolese government said rebels were in Bukavu and accused Rwandan troops of also entering the city. It stopped short of saying the city was fully under M23’s control. “Rwanda is stubbornly pursuing its plan to occupy, pillage and commit crimes and serious human rights violations on our soil,” the government said in a statement.
