The March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have issued a temporary suspension of services for state employees and officials in the captured city of Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a statement released on Saturday, the M23 rebels through their political spokesperson, Lawrence Kingson Kanyuka said the suspension that takes immediate effect is part of post-war assessments to optimize the public services for high efficient and effective management.
Kanyuka also says in a statement that any act of looting, malicious destruction or illegal occupation of private property is strictly prohibited and any offender will face severe sanctions.
Kanyuka, however, says that only essential services like; the Water Distribution Authority of the Democratic Republic of Congo, (REGIDESO), Societe Nationale Electricity (National Electricity Company-SNEL), Direction générale des migrations (General Directorate of Migration-DGM), education and health services and Congolese National Radio and Television (Radio Télévision Nationale Congolaise-RTNC) will remain exceptionally operational.
The DRC government has not yet reacted to the suspension issued by rebels. M23 rebels captured Bukavu on February 15, 2025, a few days after the capture of Goma city, Goma International Airport in North Kivu province and Kavumu airport in South Kivu province.
Despite last month’s summit held in Tanzania by East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state that ordered for immediate cessation of hostilities, nothing fruitful has been implemented on the ground.
The insurgency resumed in 2022, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga. Since then insurgency left many parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in the hands of the rebels.
Bisimwa and Makenga August 2024 allied with Nangaa to amplify the insurgency against the government. The DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 deny. The rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia and discrimination within the DRC’s leadership.
Conqueror/dictator Central African Republic Mobuto made DRCongo his motherland & ensured Congolese had no plan for change & by the time they ended his rule, it was too late as they had no National Leader! So it’s not a surprise Rwandese rebel war group M23 want to make DRC thrid Rwandese territory; Rwanda belongs to Kagame, Uganda belongs to Museveni!
Ugandans & Congolese are victims of Rwandese who believe they have the power to do as they wish in the region, even when they can’t share power in Rwanda!
Ugandans, please, WAKE UP, NOW, NO to the tribalistic system & UNITY under just ONE of you are all you need!
Funny, Palestinians are UNITED around terrorist Hamas & they are supported, feed by developed world!
Will Ugandans be terrorists when they say NO to the tribalistic system & UNITE to stop Museveni?
Why will Uganda & DRCongo be Rwandese territories?