GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, June 13 (Reuters) – M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have seized the eastern border town of Bunagana, the rebel group and local activists said on Monday, sending more than 30,000 civilians fleeing into neighbouring Uganda.
The Congolese army in a statement said Rwandan troops had occupied the town. Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23, whose leadership hails from the same Tutsi ethnic group as Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
The Rwandan army and government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Rwanda has previously denied playing any role in M23’s recent attacks. read more
The capture of Bunagana marked a major setback for Congolese forces who said a day earlier that they had the insurgents on the run.
M23 rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo have seized the eastern town of Bunagana on the border with Uganda, local activists said on Monday (June 13). pic.twitter.com/ykUmixeLbl— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) June 13, 2022
The United Nations and African Union voiced alarm about the mounting violence in a region where conflicts in the 1990s and 2000s cost millions of lives, mostly from disease and hunger, and spawned dozens of militias that remain active to this day.
Bunagana was an M23 stronghold during a 2012 insurrection that briefly overran the major city of Goma before Congolese and U.N. forces chased the rebels into neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda the following year. read more
The office of North Kivu’s military governor on Sunday said Congolese forces had “routed” the M23 following attacks near Bunagana, which is one of the main crossings into Uganda. read more
