M23 rebels have seized Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, further expanding their control in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bukavu, which has a population of 1 million, fell following the capture of its nearby airport and the earlier takeover of Goma in neighboring North Kivu. With the rebel group advancing, Congolese troops largely abandoned the city on Friday, leaving weapons behind and triggering widespread looting. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of seeking to occupy and exploit eastern DRC. It alleges that there are 4,000 active Rwandan soldiers in the region—a claim Kigali denies. Meanwhile, the African Union and the United Nations have urged a ceasefire, fearing that the recent escalation of the conflict could lead to a broader, regional war.
Source: LeMonde
