M23 consolidated control over the captured town of Bukavu in DRC

Rebels from the Rwandan-backed group M23 ("March 23 Movement") are strengthening their positions in the captured town of Bukavu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Associated Press(AP) reports.

"Rebels from the M23 group captured the town of 1.3 million people on Sunday after Congolese forces withdrew. Bukavu is 63 miles (101 kilometers) south of Goma, which rebels captured in late January," AP reported.

Bukavu is the second-largest city in eastern DRC. When the militants approached the locality, locals fled the town, causing looting and unrest in Bukavu.

"M23 is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups vying for control of eastern Congo's trillion-dollar mineral wealth, which is crucial to much of the world's technology. According to UN experts, the rebels are backed by about 4,000 soldiers from neighboring Rwanda," the agency reports.

At present, life in the city is gradually resuming. To ensure order and control the situation, rebels from M23 are patrolling the main thoroughfares of Bukavu.

"We now thank God that the situation is okay even if we don't know what lies ahead. Whatever happens, we will live with it," commented a local resident.

On the brink of a major war: Rwanda and DR Congo fight over resources

The current conflict could affect the whole of Africa and affect the interests of Western countries

On February 15, DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said that about 4,000 people have died in fighting in eastern DR Congo. At the same time, 3 thousand died directly in the area of the previously captured city of Goma.

The aggravation of the situation in DR Congo occurred after the government broke diplomatic relations with Rwanda and accused the country of supporting the rebels, who launched a new offensive on the city of Goma.