Congolese army abandoned the eastern DRC city, which was taken by M23.
A day after taking control of Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Congo, rebels backed by Rwanda have strengthened their hold on the city, whose citizens seemed content to accept their lot under the new government.
The 1.3 million-person metropolis was abandoned by Congolese army and taken over by M23 insurgents on Sunday. Goma, which was taken by the insurgents in late January, is 101 kilometers south of Bukavu.
As the rebels guarded the city’s main junctions on Monday morning, people slowly began to come out again.
“It’s not business as usual yet because people are still afraid to go out because of the insecurity”, Bukavu merchant David Balezi told The Associated Press.
While traffic gradually increased again, the majority of shops and stores in Bukavu, as well as the border crossing to Rwanda, were closed Monday morning.
“Even though we have no idea what the future holds, we are grateful that everything is fine right now. David Munyaga, a Bukavu resident, stated, “We will accept whatever happens”.
The rebel-appointed governor of North-Kivu province, Erasto Bahati Musanga, declared on Monday that the ports of Goma and Bukavu will reopen on Tuesday.
Demonstrations against MONUSCO
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in rebel-controlled Goma to demand the removal of troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which comprises nations from South Africa to Congo, as well as the departure of the UN peacekeeping operation in Congo, known as MONUSCO.
With some holding placards and yelling slogans demanding the resignation of Congo’s president Felix Tshisekedi, the demonstrators staged a sit-in in front of the MONUSCO headquarters in Goma.
“Why doesn’t the conflict end in Congo? “They should leave, they have nothing to do here”, protester Bauma Sukali stated.
Fiston Nsabimana, another demonstrator, declared : “Tshisekedi is not able to ensure peace, let him leave power”.
Since the conclusion of two significant conflicts that lasted from 1996 to 2003, M23 has now taken over more territory than any prior uprising. They now have authority over some of the area’s enormous and priceless mineral resources as a result of these developments.
