CNN
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A rebel faction has announced its progression into Bukavu, the second-largest city in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where locals report instances of looting and militant presence in the streets.

The rebel coalition known as Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which encompasses the M23 armed group, released a statement on Saturday claiming they have seized control of Kavumu Airport in South Kivu, leading government forces to retreat “in chaos, abandoning the city of Bukavu,” the provincial capital.

There has been no official confirmation from the DRC government, and it remains uncertain how far the rebels have penetrated into Bukavu based on eyewitness accounts.

The swift advance into the city follows less than three weeks after the rebels claimed the capture of Goma, which is the largest city and capital of the neighboring North Kivu province, on January 27.

Clashes in Goma between the rebels and the DRC military resulted in over 3,000 fatalities, according to government statistics.

The DRC and various Western nations contend that Rwanda is providing support to M23, which primarily comprises ethnic Tutsis who defected from the Congolese army over a decade ago.

However, Rwandan President Paul Kagame stated in an interview with CNN this month that he was unsure about the presence of Rwandan troops in the DRC.

Since 2022, the M23 group, which claims to advocate for the rights of minority Rwandophone communities including Tutsis, has resumed its rebellion against the DRC government, taking control of a significant area in North Kivu that borders Rwanda and Uganda.

Now allied with the AFC, the group has also captured resource-rich regions in eastern DRC, such as Nyabibwe and Rubaya, which are home to some of the world’s largest coltan deposits, a crucial mineral in smartphone manufacturing.

Despite calls for a ceasefire from international and regional leaders, the rebels’ ambition to expand their territory continues unabated.

Victor Tesongo, a spokesperson for the AFC, informed CNN that the reported captures of Goma and Bukavu represent the group’s most significant territorial gains. Together, these cities are home to a population exceeding three million, making them among the most densely populated areas in the DRC.

Sylvain Ekenge Ekenge, a military spokesperson for the DRC, stated to Reuters that government forces retreated from Bukavu following the rebels’ occupancy of the airport. CNN has reached out to the DRC authorities for their input on the rebels’ assertions.

Residents reported to Reuters that while they spotted M23 fighters in their vicinity, they had yet to witness any actual combat. Additional accounts indicated that the rebels had not yet reached the heart of Bukavu.

“Their uniforms were distinct. We had anticipated their arrival since early in the day… the FARDC (government soldiers) had departed. There were no confrontations,” remarked one local resident to Reuters, who observed the rebels from her window.

Another resident of Bukavu, David Mapendano, conveyed to CNN that he had not seen any rebels on the streets yet but noted a significant amount of looting occurring throughout the city.

“They are plundering warehouses and commercial establishments,” he stated, attributing the looting to fleeing soldiers and civilians.

“We are left without security,” Mapendano added.