NAIROBI
Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has come to a standstill after a takeover by the M23 rebels.
Daily activities came to a halt due to the looting of stores following the withdrawal of Congolese forces as M23 rebels seized Kavumu on Friday, according to local news website Actualite.cd.
Residents have been attempting to restore normalcy amid precarious calm in the city.
“For several days, we have been stuck in our houses, but since there is a lull, we are trying to get out,” a motorbike taxi driver told Actualite.cd.
Separately, residents of Goma in North Kivu province remain wary of human rights violations, including targeted killings and looting, as well as the occupation of buildings, according to local Radio Okapi.
The Congolese government said Sunday that the Rwandan army and its allies have entered Bukavu and urged people to remain vigilant.
Since Jan. 26, more than 3,000 people have been killed, 2,880 injured, and over 500,000 displaced, adding to the 6.4 million already internally displaced people due to the ongoing rebel offensive, according to the UN.
At least 20 peacekeepers, including 14 from South Africa, have been killed during clashes between the M23 rebels and Congolese forces.
Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels and sending forces to eastern Congo when the latest offensive began. Kigali has repeatedly denied the allegations that it backs the rebels.
