Rwanda-backed rebels reach the center of east Congo’s 2nd major city in an unprecedented expansion

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have taken control of Bukavu, Congo’s second largest city, after little resistance from government forces, with many residents cheering on the rebels as they marched through the city center. The rebels, supported by neighboring Rwanda, have expanded their reach beyond Goma and are now eyeing political power in the mineral-rich region, causing widespread panic and looting among civilians and Congolese soldiers. President Tshisekedi has warned of the risk of regional conflict, with troops from Burundi and South Africa supporting Congo’s forces in Bukavu and Goma, respectively, amid ongoing ethnic tensions and historical connections to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

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