KEY POINTS
- M23 rebels seize Bukavu, fueling fears of regional conflict.
- Looting and prison breaks leave residents struggling to recover.
- Rebels now control key mineral-rich territories in eastern Congo.
Following the entrance of M23 rebels, a Rwandan-backed organization that has vowed to restore order, residents in Bukavu observed widespread theft Monday.
M23 rebels seize Bukavu, escalating tensions in eastern Congo
The rebels made their biggest move since taking control of Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo, in late January when they stormed into the heart of Bukavu on Sunday.
Kinshasa’s power was further weakened and tensions increased amid worries of a regional conflict when Bukavu, a major commercial center, and its adjacent airport in Kavumu were taken. The complete control of the city by M23 has not been formally recognized by the Congolese government. To avert conflicts in heavily populated regions, Congolese and Burundian forces withdrew, leaving a security void that resulted in looting and a prison break.
An coalition of rebel factions, including M23, said in a statement played on local radio on Monday that it was trying to safeguard the people of Bukavu.
“To the great satisfaction of the entire population, our forces have been working to restore security for the people and their property,” the statement read.
Shopkeeper Pascal Zulu waited outside his looted store, unsure of how he would pay back the loan he took out to purchase goods.
According to Zulu, “the thugs came, took everything, and nothing is left.” “I’m furious. I have no idea how I’m going to pay back the loan.
The well-armed Tutsi-led rebel organization M23 is the most recent in a string of such outfits that have arisen in the unstable east of Congo.
Congo accuses Rwanda as rebels tighten grip on key territories
Rwanda refutes claims made by Western nations, the UN, and Congo that it provides M23 with troops and weapons. According to Kigali, it is protecting itself from a Hutu militia that is working with the Congolese army. Rwanda is accused by Congo of stealing its mineral wealth through proxy militias.
More area has been taken by M23 than by any other rebel organization since the two big conflicts in Congo, which raged from 1996 to 2003. They now have authority over some of the enormous mineral resources in the area because to their advancements.
According to Reuters, Congo is the world’s leading producer of cobalt and tantalum, which are essential components for batteries used in electric cars and cell phones. Significant amounts of lithium, tin, tungsten, coltan, and gold may be found in the nation, which is also the third-largest producer of copper. Tin, tantalum, and gold are abundant in the Eastern Congo in particular.
