M23 Rebels Claim to Have Taken Control of Congolese City Bukavu

bukavu, kinshasa - Rwanda-backed M23 rebels assert to have captured Bukavu in Eastern Congo, raising concerns about the city's control.

Control of Bukavu City by M23 Rebels

The Rwanda-supported M23 rebels have declared the seizure of Bukavu in Eastern Congo. The control of different parts of the city remains uncertain, with over a million residents residing in this vast city on the shores of Lake Kivu and the Rwandan border. A UN spokesperson mentioned on Friday that there is minimal fighting in Bukavu.

Bukavu and Goma serve as the capitals of South and North Kivu provinces. These provinces are rich in valuable minerals such as coltan, essential for mobile phone production. The northeastern region of Congo has been a battleground for years, primarily due to the region's wealth. Apart from coltan, diamonds, gold, copper, tantalum, and tin are also extracted.