The M23 rebels have taken control of Bukavu, a key city in mineral-rich eastern Congo, after facing little resistance from government forces, the government confirmed Sunday.
According to Voice of America, Associated Press journalists witnessed residents cheering as the rebels entered Bukavu following a march from Goma, which they seized last month. The rebels positioned themselves at the governor’s office, pledging to “clean up” after the old regime.
Despite Congo’s government vowing to restore order, there was no sign of soldiers in Bukavu, a city of 1.3 million people. Many troops fled alongside thousands of civilians on Saturday.
M23, backed by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops according to United Nations experts, is among over 100 armed groups vying for control of the region’s vast mineral wealth, crucial for global technology. The ongoing conflict has displaced over 6 million people, making it the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
