M23 rebels encroach on eastern DR Congo forcing people to flee
A resident of the eastern Democratic Republic (DR) Congo, Jordan Bita, risked his life in order to escape being recruited by the rebel group M23.
BBC News reported on March 5th that Bita clung on to a bin bag carrying a small number of his possessions which he used as a float in order to be carried down the Rusizi river by the strong currents.
Buva told BBC News that: “This was the last stage in a desperate journey to escape to safety in Burundi” he continued, saying that the reason he fled, “is because M23 fighters are everywhere and they are forcing us to join them in the fight against the government.”
At least 20 people have drowned trying to cross the Rusizi in recent weeks however the true figure is believed to be far higher.
People in the DR Congo are desperately trying to escape the country as M23 tighten their grip on the eastern region.
Clarice Kacindi is a mother who lost her three-year-old child attempting to cross the Rusizi and she told the BBC that: “M23 are making our lives very difficult. Even if I wanted to go back home, I’ll be forced to start from scratch. They’ve stolen everything we left behind.”
The M23 have been present in DR Congo since they first led a rebellion against the government in 2012.
However, since the latest rebellion broke out in 2022, M23 now have the backing of the Rwandan government and have managed to make major advances into territories across DR Congo.
Maghrebi reported on February 17th that M23 had managed to reach the centre of Bukavu – a major city in the east of the country – forcing the government to tell national troops to withdraw.
Burundi has sent 10,000 troops to the region and is now allowing men to cross in to their country, instead urging them to stay in the DR Congo and fight M23.
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