The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels pledge to restore Bukabu’s safety as an escalation of combat fans.
Rwanda-backed rebels of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have since late last month pledged to “restore security” in Bukabu, the country’s second-largest city under M23 control.
Residents of the capital of Southern Kivu were walking tentatively down the street again on Monday, the day after M23 rebels overrun the city without resistance from the fleeing Congolese forces.
Thousands of people fled to neighbouring Burundi, but some residents who stayed behind welcomed the M23 as a line of fighter jets entered Bukabu on Sunday morning.
In a statement on local radio on Monday, the Rebel Alliance, including the M23, said it would support the Bukab population “abandoned” by Army and Alliance combatants.
“Our forces have worked to restore the security of people and their property.
Bukabu is the latest city in the hands of the M23 and is also known as the March 23rd Movement. In recent months, he grabbed the territory belt of the Eastern DRC after gaining weapons again in the second half of 2021.
The capture of the 1.3 million commercial hub took an even further blow to Kinshasa authority and escalated conflicts that fanned the fear of an all-out regional war.
The M23 began moving forward in South Kibhu last month after controlling Goma, the capital of Rwanda and neighboring North Kibhu. According to the United Nations, thousands of people have died fighting between the M23 and the Congolese forces.
Northkiv rebel governor Erasto Bahati Musanga announced on Tuesday that Bukavu and Goma ports will reopen.
The voyage of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s largest lakes, has been banned since late January as a result of rebel attacks on Goma.
Blood was avoided in Bukabu, but city streets were still littered with garbage left by residents who used the mess to loot humanitarian warehouses, shops and local breweries.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday said marauders acquired 7,000 tons of humanitarian food over the weekend.
The agency condemned the attack on Bukabu warehouse in a post on X, saying that the food supply “intentionally provides important support to the most vulnerable families currently facing a growing humanitarian crisis. There is,” he said.
It also includes protection of civilians and humanitarian workers to all parties involved in conflicts “respecting their obligations to international humanitarian law.”
1/3 #WFP denounces #Bukavu, #Southkivu warehouse looting in Eastern #Drcongo🇨🇩 over the weekend. The critical food supplies stored were intended to provide life-saving support to the most vulnerable families currently facing a growing humanitarian crisis.
– WFP DRC (@WFPDRC) February 17, 2025
Standing in front of the looted store, Pascal Zul said he didn’t know how he could pay back the loan he took to buy the item.
“The thugs have arrived, they take everything and there’s nothing left. I’m really upset. I don’t know how to pay back the money I borrowed,” he said.
However, economic activity gradually resumed within the city. In the two markets, traders returned to the food stalls, but few customers were there.
“We are using this calm to resume commercial activities. Otherwise, how will we live?” Maman Nyabadeu, a seller of fruit and spices, told AFP News Agency.
The M23 is the most prominent of over 100 armed groups, fighting for control of trillions of dollars of mineral wealth in Eastern Congo.
According to UN experts, the rebels are supported by troops of around 4,000 people from nearby Rwanda. Rwanda has rejected allegations from the DRC, the United Nations and Western countries that it supports the group with arms and military.
