Sun Feb 16 13:08:20 UTC 2025: ## M23 Rebels Seize Bukavu City Center, Reigniting Eastern DRC Crisis
**Bukavu, DR Congo –** M23 rebel fighters, backed by Rwanda according to widespread accusations, have captured the city center of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The advance, which comes weeks after the rebels seized Goma, has sparked a mixture of fear and jubilation among residents. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and represents an unprecedented expansion of territory under M23 control. The situation remains tense, with reports of widespread panic and uncertainty among the civilian population. International condemnation is expected following this latest seizure of a major Congolese city.
First Piper 