Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of Bukavu, the second major city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to fall under their control in recent weeks. After Congolese forces abandoned the city, the rebels moved in, causing chaos as residents fled and looters scavenged for supplies. The rebels now patrol the city as residents cautiously return to the streets. M23 is just one of many armed groups in the region competing for valuable mineral resources critical for global technology. The rebels are said to have the support of 4,000 troops from Rwanda, fueling concerns of regional escalation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged for a ceasefire and the safe return of Congolese authorities to Bukavu, while French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the rebels to withdraw. The situation in Bukavu highlights the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC and the complex web of interests at play in the region. As international pressure grows for a resolution to the crisis, the people of Bukavu remain caught in the middle of a volatile and uncertain situation.
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