Story by Vivian Bangamu
THE situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains volatile, with the M23 rebels having captured Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern DRC, including the regional governor’s office.
Bukavu is the second city after Goma to be captured by the rebels in the mineral-rich region in the past few weeks.
Reports say Congolese soldiers and allied troops from Burundi had retreated from Bukavu’s military bases on Friday, the same day M23 took control of a regional airport around 30 kilometres outside of Bukavu.
Meanwhile, the DRC government has urged residents to stay at home to avoid being targeted by the rebels.
According, to United Nations estimates, at least 400 000 people have been displaced by the fighting in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu in January alone, while a further 700 000 were displaced in Goma, fleeing to neighbouring countries.
