NewStats: 3,262,563 , 8,177,496 topics. Date: Monday, 02 June 2025 at 06:09 PM gx3n

M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo have entered Bukavu, the eastern region's second-largest city.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance which includes M23 rebels, told Reuters news agency the rebels had entered the South Kivu provincial capital on Friday evening and would continue their advance on Saturday.

The Rwandan-backed militants' progress comes despite international calls for a ceasefire and a resumption of peace talks.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in recent weeks as a result of the rebel advance.


Last month, the Tutsi-led M23, which is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, seized Goma, the main city in the mineral-rich east. The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of sowing chaos in the region in order to benefit from its resources, a claim Rwanda has denied.

The M23 briefly captured Goma in a previous conflict in 2012, but the taking of Bukavu, which is the capital of South Kivu province, would represent a new phase in the turbulent recent history of the region.

The city, which borders Rwanda, is on the southern tip of Lake Kivu and is an important transit point for the local mineral trade.

Earlier on Friday, rebel fighters had entered the airport some 30km (19 miles) north of Bukavu, as the Congolese army and a militia allied with it withdrew without putting up much resistance.

But there were heavy clashes on the outskirts of Bukavu, South Kivu's Deputy governor Jean Elekano, had told the BBC.

In a village further north - Mayba - 70 bodies were found in a church, according to local media reports.

A local community coordinator in North Kivu, Vianney Vitswamba, told the DR Congo news agency 7Sur7 that the bodies were found tied up. Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels - an Islamic State-linked group - were blamed, but the BBC has not confirmed the report.

The DR Congo rebel leader whose fighters have created turmoil
What's the fighting in DR Congo all about?
Residents of Bukavu ed by the BBC said the authorities advised residents to remain indoors.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, DR Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi called for Rwanda to be sanctioned, accusing it of having "expansionist ambitions", the AFP news agency reports.

"We will no longer put up with our strategic resources being plundered for the benefit of foreign interests under the complicit gaze of those who feed on chaos," he is quoted as saying.

As well as being accused of backing the rebels, which Rwanda has denied, the country is also said to have its own troops in eastern DR Congo.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said his country's priority is security. He has said Rwanda is in danger from Hutu rebels in DR Congo and has dismissed any threat of sanctions.

The news of the latest advance comes as the continent's heads of state are due to meet at an African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia on Saturday.

The head of the AU commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat is quoted by AFP as saying that a ceasefire "must be observed" adding that "military campaigns are not going to solve these problems. There is a general mobilisation of Africa today on this issue and I hope that we will be able to impose this ceasefire".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgmj00zjrpo?

These rebels are gradually taking over DRC, the Congolese soldiers and the regional force led by south Africa has failed to halt their advances.

I trust ECOMOG, they would have pushed them out, military intervention from other countries is needed to prevent widespread deaths and displacement

I'm calling on the government of Nigeria to quickly intervene

This never ending crisis.

If Nigeria wants to rescue them again, they fit turn their back against us jsut like SA did.

Make dem settle. Their issue

God1000:


https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgmj00zjrpo?

I am flagabasted

The M23 Rebels are being sponsored by the Governments of Rwanda & Uganda.

It is well with Congo people.

Nigerians should pray such fate don't befall Nigeria in no distant time whereby different regional and ethnic militias tries to seize control of the resources in their region due to brazen corruption, tribalism and nepotism by those currently ruling/ruining Nigeria, who failed to govern the nation with sincerity, equity, justice and fairness

We need ECOMOG over there! lol!

But Hope USAIDS is not involved in funding them!

With $ from USAIDS terrorism can never be quenched!

This is getting serious day by day

Very good

Rwandan Tutsi expansionist agenda in DR Congo.

God1000:
These rebels are gradually taking over DRC, the Congolese soldiers and the regional force led by south Africa has failed to halt their advances.

I trust ECOMOG, they would have pushed them out, military intervention from other countries is needed to prevent widespread deaths and displacement

I am surprised you didn't blame the West today or you will Edit your post later and still blame the West

God1000:
These rebels are gradually taking over DRC, the Congolese soldiers and the regional force led by south Africa has failed to halt their advances.

I trust ECOMOG, they would have pushed them out, military intervention from other countries is needed to prevent widespread deaths and displacement

I suggest we Ecomog begins with Boko Haram. Charity begins at home.

Lawless world, if Israel can do it with the of West, M23 will surely do it and we should expect more

God1000:
These rebels are gradually taking over DRC, the Congolese soldiers and the regional force led by south Africa has failed to halt their advances.

I trust ECOMOG, they would have pushed them out, military intervention from other countries is needed to prevent widespread deaths and displacement

Kagame is a Bastard, he is stealing lot's of Gold 🥇 and other mineral resources in Congo Drc

I've promised myself that whenever I become a president of a country, the first thing I would do is revamp the military.

Spent trillions of dollars to upgrade defence and makes it unpenetrated

Terrorist have to think twice before attacking my defence🔥🔥

Mercylike:


If Nigeria wants to rescue them again, they fit turn their back against us jsut like SA did.

Make dem settle. Their issue

Aswear

They should keep Dancing Makossa

'City' like Benin city. The only City in DRC is Kinshasa

International politics.

African countries are always a victim

Booty4ker:
I've promised myself that whenever I become a president of a country, the first thing I would do is revamp the military.

Spent trillions of dollars to upgrade defence and makes it unpenetrated

Terrorist have to think twice before attacking my defence🔥🔥

The best thing to do is to govern with sincerity of purpose, devoid of tribalism, nepotism and favoring of your section of the country over others, that is the only way to avoid chaos and sabotage.



Don't favor your tribe or region too much over other tribes and regions that make up the country, make other tribes and region feel belonged too. If you must favor your tribe do it with wisdom and restraint not the way Bola Tinubu is doing today, making some tribes and regions feel worthless and you expect peace and patriotism from them, it will never work.


This is the main cause of political instability and chaos in Africa; African Presidents ruling with bias, nepotism and corruption while neglecting other tribes and regions that make up the nation, it is a recipe for disaster.


Nigeria is gradually walking on that same road to perdition, if Bola Tinubu doesnt retrace his tribalism steps sooner

Though, I'm not too surprised that Rwanda 🇷🇼 is sponsor a terrorist group to take over another country, since Trump has also declared to take-over GAZA.

Where is sovereignty we were thought

This is like Syria all over again when the HTS started taking grounds until they reached Damascus and unseated Assad, all in a week or 2.

This is a Beta version of that.

Hutus never see something after massacring over one million Tutsis in 1994 genocide they fled into neighboring DRC to relax, this is what we call retribution

Felix Tshisekedi is worse than Mobutu. Same way APC has been far worse than PDP. DRC is falling fast under him.

Edusouls:
Hutus never see something after massacring over one million Tutsis in 1994 genocide they fled into neighboring DRC to relax, this is what we call retribution

Every action of man have a reward here on earth.



Dear Yorubas and Hausa-Fulanis hope you guys are taking note?

AngelicBeing:
Kagame is a Bastard, he is stealing lot's of Gold 🥇 and other mineral resources in Congo Drc

he needs to be dealt with

Hmmm

Damn!

DR congo as a country is almost a failed state, same with Nigeria. A banana Republic where the countries resources are used to enrich a few elites. One thing you can't get in the military of such country is patriotism, morale and will power. Soldiers from the military are defecting to M23. They government will soon be over run. Same thing happened to Idi Amin