Residents and community leaders say that Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo have entered the region’s second-largest city of Bukavu, the latest ground gained since a major escalation of their yearslong fighting with government forces. The M23 rebels entered the city’s Kazingu and Bagira zone and were advancing towards the center of the city of about 1.3 million people, according to Jean Samy, vice-president of the civil society in South Kivu. He reported gunfire in parts of the city. Videos posted online appeared to show rebels marching toward the Bagira area. In one of the videos, a voice in the background shouted: “They are there ... there are many of them.”
