Presidency: Congolese troops retake control of city of Bukavu

Troops of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the pro-government Wazalendo militia entered Bukavu and now control the city, retaking it from M23 rebels, the Congolese president’s office said, Report informs via TASS.

"The city of Bukavu, which was briefly captured by M23 terrorists, is under the control of the Congolese army and the valiant Wazalendo," the office said on X.

According to the Actualite news website, military units entered Bukavu late on February 15. Videos posted to social media show troops riding trucks through the streets of Bukavu. No fighting is being reported, but there are sounds of single shots. There are reports of mass looting of stores and warehouses.

M23 units captured the city on Friday evening. Okapi radio reported that government troops withdrew from their positions around Bukavu, and militia units fled.

Bukavu's population exceeds 1 million. About 1 million more people live in camps for displaced persons and refugees in its suburbs. At the end of January, M23 rebels captured the city of Goma.