Gunfire and looting in DR Congo city as rebels advance

In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a city named Bukavu is experiencing serious turmoil as the M23 rebel group continues its aggressive actions. This group had previously taken control of Goma, a significant city known for its rich mineral resources, just last month. Recently, on Saturday, reports emerged of sporadic gunfire and rampant looting throughout Bukavu, including at a World Food Programme storage facility. Many residents have chosen to stay indoors, seeking safety from the chaos outside. The situation has become increasingly confusing, with conflicting reports about whether the M23 rebels have actually entered Bukavu after making advances in the surrounding areas. Just the day before, M23 fighters had seized control of Kavumu airport, located north of Bukavu, which has raised concerns about the rebels' intentions. The United Nations and the European Union have expressed their alarm regarding the escalating conflict. A recent threat made by Uganda's army chief to attack a Congolese town has heightened fears that the conflict could expand into a larger regional war. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed an African Union summit on Saturday, emphasizing the need to avoid a regional escalation at all costs. He stated that there is no military solution to the ongoing issues and that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo must be respected. The European Union has indicated that it is urgently considering all possible options in response to the troubling news from Bukavu, warning that the ongoing violations of the DRC's territorial integrity will not go unanswered. The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of creating chaos in the region to exploit its natural resources, a claim that Rwanda has firmly denied. As a result of the rebel advances, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes in recent weeks. On Saturday, the streets of Bukavu were eerily quiet, with residents hiding indoors. One woman shared her fears with a BBC reporter, stating that people were avoiding going outside due to the gunfire and the looting taking place. She expressed her desperation, saying, 'I only have enough food for three days. As a woman, it is difficult for me to go outside because I could be raped by the looters or the armed groups. We feel abandoned by the authorities. ' The looting has included the World Food Programme's depot in Bukavu, which contained 6,800 metric tons of food, according to a spokesperson for the UN aid agency. Claude Kalinga mentioned that the theft of these supplies would worsen the already dire situation for those in need. The agency had previously suspended its operations for weeks due to the deteriorating security conditions. There have been mixed reports regarding the presence of M23 fighters in Bukavu, with some residents claiming to have seen rebels on the streets without any signs of fighting. However, an M23 source, along with two Congolese army officers and multiple Bukavu residents, informed Reuters that the rebels had not yet entered the city center. If the M23 rebels were to capture Bukavu, it would mark a significant expansion of their territory since the latest insurgency began in 2022. Bukavu, which borders Rwanda, is located at the southern tip of Lake Kivu and serves as a crucial transit point for the local mineral trade. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Uganda's defense forces chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced on social media that he would attack the town of Bunia, also in eastern Congo, unless all armed forces there surrendered within 24 hours. This threat has ignited fears of a broader conflict. The warning from Kainerugaba, whose father is the president of Uganda, adds to concerns that the region may be on the brink of a return to the devastating wars of the 1990s and 2000s, which resulted in millions of deaths. Since 2021, Uganda's military has supported the Congolese army in its fight against Islamist militants in the east, but UN experts have raised alarms about the ongoing instability. The mineral-rich eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been plagued by conflict for over 30 years, particularly since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. This ongoing instability has drawn in neighboring countries, leading to catastrophic consequences, especially during the 1990s when two massive conflicts, often referred to as Africa's World Wars, resulted in the loss of millions of lives.