Hundreds of Congolese police join rebels in occupied city

23/2/2025 6:27

Crowds of Congolese police officers who switched to the M23 rebel group sang and clapped in occupied Bukavu city on Saturday, preparing for retraining under the authority of the Rwandan-backed rebels who are intent on showing they plan to stick around and govern.



The M23 rebels advanced a week ago into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's second-largest city, which was rocked by looting and unrest as Congolese forces withdrew without a fight.



The M23's capture of swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits has fanned fears of a wider war and led the U.N. Security Council to demand unanimously on Friday that it cease hostilities and withdraw.



In Bukavu, there was no sign this call would be heeded. The assembled police, wearing brand new uniforms and black berets, were told they would leave for a few days of training and come back to support the M23.



Around 1,800 police officers have surrendered and were going for retraining with a further 500 more due to do so, said Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for the AFC rebel alliance that includes the M23.