Former DRC police join M23 as rebels advance, while Lubero residents fear imminent attack

Former DRC police officers in Bukavu have joined M23 rebels and are retraining under their command. Backed by Rwanda, M23 has rapidly advanced in the northeast, seizing key cities. Some locals in captured areas are aligning with the group, citing past hardships. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of seeking control over resources, while M23 claims to protect ethnic Tutsis. In Lubero, 450 km away, residents fear an imminent attack as M23 gains control of major roads. Market vendors hope for stability, but uncertainty looms as tensions rise.

Al Jazeera’s Fintan Monaghan reports.

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Post from Al Jazeera on February 23, 2025

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