Alliance Fleuve Congo or the Congo River Alliance, the eastern Congo rebel alliance that includes the M23, has said it has not intention of capturing Bukavu, South Kivu’s capita, even as it announce a humanitarian ceasefire from Tuesday, February 4.
The group also said it is not considering capturing other areas.
Through a statement on Monday, the political-military coalition of rebel groups and political parties led by former DRC electoral boss Corneille Nangaa, also condemned the Congolese military for what it termed as use of a military aircraft at Kavumu Airport, “where they load bombs that kill our compatriots in liberated areas”.
Furthermore, the rebel alliance called for the withdrawal of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC), saying their presence is no longer justified.
FEAR OF BUKAVU TAKEOVER
Since M23 captured Goma on January 26, more than 700 people are said to have have been killed and nearly 3,000 wounded.
There were fears that the rebels were moving south, with United Nations’ peacekeeping chief saying on Friday that M23 were advancing south towards Bukavu.
“The information I have is that M23/RDF are about 60km north of Bukavu. They seem to be moving quite fast,” Jean Pierre Lacroix told reporters.
“There is an airport in the vicinity of where they are, I think a few kilometers south, which is Kavumu.”
He said if they succeed in taking over the airport as they did in Goma, it would be another “significant step.”
Congolese military bases in Bukavu were being emptied on Thursday to reinforce positions along the route to the provincial capital, residents told The Associated Press.
Reuters reported that officials in Bukavu were recruiting civilians to help protect the city.
