Source: US News & World Report
“Government forces and local militias have clashed south of the provincial capital of Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as troops fall back in the face of an advance by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, military sources and townsfolk say. The troops and their militia allies were meant to pull back from Bukavu — a trading and mining industry hub — to avoid urban battles with the rebels and to dig in elsewhere to stall the rapid offensive. The militias wanted to stand and fight. … Direct clashes with the M23 were largely avoided, but towns south of Bukavu then found themselves in the middle of firefights as pro-government militia fighters, known as the Wazalendo, tried to disarm or halt retreating or deserting Congolese soldiers.” (02/18/25)