The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed on Sunday the entry of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels into Bukavu, a major city in the eastern part of the country.
In a statement, the DRC government assured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, where the M23 rebels entered earlier in the morning.
According to local sources, M23 rebels took control of several strategic sites in the city, including the residence of the provincial governor.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to restoring order, security, and territorial integrity, calling on Bukavu residents to stay indoors to avoid becoming targets.
As of the present, the M23 armed group has gained full control over the regions along the shores of Lake Kivu in the DRC.
The rising tensions in eastern DRC in recent weeks have caused a sharp worsening of the humanitarian situation there. Since Jan. 26, more than 3,000 people have been killed, 2,880 injured, and over 500,000 displaced, adding to the 6.4 million people already internally displaced in the region, according to the U.N.
The ongoing conflict between the M23 and the DRC government is deeply rooted in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and long-standing ethnic tensions between the Tutsi and Hutu communities. The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23, while Rwanda alleges that the DRC army has allied with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a rebel group accused of participating in the genocide against the Tutsi.
DR Congo government confirms rebel entry into strategic city Bukavu
