JUSTIN KABUMBA

Title of Author

The Author is a AP reporter working on various topics across various countries.

M23 rebels patrol the centre of east Congo's second-largest city Bukavu, in South Kivu, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Janvier Barhahiga)

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels tighten their grip on second major city in eastern Congo

Rwanda-backed rebels have tightened their grip on Bukavu a day after seizing the second major city in eastern Congo. On Sunday, M23 rebels captured the city of 1.3 million people after it was abandoned by Congolese forces.

People walk past an independence square in Bukavu, eastern Congo, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Janvier Barhahiga)

Rwanda-backed rebels advance and Congolese forces retreat from eastern Congo’s second largest city

Panic and looting are sweeping through eastern Congo’s second largest city as residents flee by the thousands to escape the looming advance of Rwanda-backed rebels. It came a day after M23 fighters entered the outskirts of Bukavu.

M23 rebels escort government soldiers and police who surrendered to an undisclosed location in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.(AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

Rwanda-backed rebels advance into eastern Congo’s 2nd major city of Bukavu, residents say

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.

A child displaced by the fighting between M23 rebels and government soldiers holds a damaged helmet at the camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

110,000 people are stranded in eastern Congo as rebels are accused of forced return

The U.N. says more than 110,000 displaced people have in recent days left settlement camps in eastern Congo’s cities controlled by Rwanda-backed rebels after the rebels were accused of forced camp closures.

At least 55 civilians killed by militia fighters in northeastern Congo

Authorities say militia fighters in northeastern Congo have killed at least 55 civilians in an attack on a cluster of villages and a camp for displaced people camp.

Residents walk by charred vehicles in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Trial begins for 84 Congolese soldiers accused of murder, rape and other crimes against civilians

The trial of 84 Congolese soldiers accused of murder, rape and other crimes against civilians in the country’s conflict-battered east has begun.

Zawadi Sifa, right, 35, mother of seven, who has been fleeing fighting from camp to camp, carries water in her latest displaced camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2025.(AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

A family fleeing violence in eastern Congo sees little hope as rebels grab more land

Thousands of families have been displaced by violence in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels last month seized the key city of Goma in a blitz offensive in the mineral-rich region.

Medics treat a man wounded during fighting between Congolese government troops and M23 rebel forces in Goma's Kyeshero hospital Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Rwanda-backed rebels have seized another town in eastern Congo

Officials and residents say Rwanda-backed rebels have gained ground in eastern Congo despite the unilateral ceasefire they declared earlier this week, taking control of a town 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the provincial capital of Bukavu.

Red Cross personnel load bodies of victims of the fighting between Congolese government forces and M23 rebels in a truck in Goma, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, as the U.N. health agency said 900 died in the fight. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Congo calls rebels’ ceasefire declaration ‘false communication’ as reports of fighting continue

Congo’s government has described the unilateral ceasefire declared by Rwanda-backed rebels in eastern Congo as “false communication,” while the United Nations on Tuesday noted reports of heavy fighting with Congolese forces in the region.

Medics treat a man wounded during fighting between Congolese government troops and M23 rebel forces in Goma's Kyeshero hospital Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

The Rwanda-backed rebels who seized a major Congo city declare a unilateral ceasefire

The Rwanda-backed rebels who seized eastern Congo’s key city of Goma have announced a unilateral ceasefire in the region for humanitarian reasons.

Residents walk by charred vehicles in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Congo says 773 dead in weeklong fighting as military tries to repel Rwanda-backed rebels

Authorities say at least 773 people were killed in the eastern Congo’s largest city of Goma city and its vicinity this week amid fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels.

Residents walk by charred vehicles in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Rwanda-backed rebels move deeper into eastern Congo as UN reports executions and rapes

The U.N. says Rwanda-backed rebels were quickly expanding their presence in eastern Congo after capturing the region’s major city.

M23 rebels escort government soldiers and police who surrendered to an undisclosed location in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Rwanda-backed rebels in eastern Congo say they plan to take their fight to the capital

Rwanda-backed rebels who have captured eastern Congo’s largest city say they plan to take their rebellion to the capital and seek to gain political power.

M23 rebels patrol the streets of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Rwanda-backed rebels take more towns as they expand control after seizing east Congo’s largest city

Rebels backed by Rwanda have captured more towns in eastern Congo as fighters moved beyond the key city of Goma in an apparent attempt to expand their control in the conflict-battered region.

People protest in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels' advances into eastern Congo's capital Goma. (AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)

Protesters attack embassies in Congo’s capital as security forces try to slow rebels in the east

Congolese security forces have tried to slow the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who say they have captured Goma after entering eastern Congo’s largest city as U.N. officials reported an unspecified number of bodies on the streets.

People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Thousands flee fighting in Congo as rebels claim they’ve captured the key city of Goma

Residents in eastern Congo’s largest city of Goma are fleeing after Rwanda-backed rebels claimed to have captured the regional hub from Congolese forces. Fighting has escalated in recent days despite calls from the U.N.

People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claim major Congolese city, which Congo calls a ‘declaration of war’

Rwanda-backed rebels claim they have captured eastern Congo’s largest city, Goma, as the United Nations describe a “mass panic” among its 2 million people and Congo’s government say the rebel advance was a “declaration of war.”

UN armoured personnel carriers deploy outside Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

International peacekeepers killed as fighting rages around eastern Congo’s key city

Congolese government troops deploy outside Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, as M23 rebels are reported to close in on the town. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Governor of Congo’s North Kivu province dies of his wounds in fighting with rebels, authorities say

Authorities say the governor of eastern Congo’s North Kivu province has died from injuries sustained in fighting on the front line as M23 rebels close in on Goma.

Aline Minani holds a photo of Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi, a Congolese man killed for fighting corruption in 2007, and whose beatification was approved by Pope Francis, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

Killed for fighting corruption, a Congolese man made a martyr is inspiring a new generation

When a 25-year-old government worker was asked in 2007 to allow spoiled rice from Rwanda to be transported across the border to eastern Congo, he knew the risks of resisting corruption.

Mariam Nasibu stands by her 10-year-old daughter Deborah, who was wounded in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces, in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

M23 rebels battling Congo’s army close in on Goma as panic spreads among city’s 2 million people

Panic is spreading in Goma in eastern Congo as M23 rebels encircle the city, battling Congo’s army. Many civilians have been wounded in the crossfire.

People fleeing M-23 rebel advances arrive by boat in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)

A rebel group is advancing on eastern Congo’s largest city and over 100,000 people have fled

The M23 rebel group is advancing toward eastern Congo’s largest city of Goma. The United Nations says this has displaced over 178,000 people in the past two weeks.

M23 rebels stand with their weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

M23 rebels in eastern Congo seize a town on a key supply route to the provincial capital

Authorities in eastern Congo say M23 rebels have seized the town of Minova, a key supply route for the provincial capital, Goma.

M23 rebels stand with their weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

Rights group accuses Congo’s army and a rebel group of possible war crimes

Amnesty International has accused Congo’s army and a rebel group of bombing densely populated areas in attacks that “likely constitute war crimes.”

Islamic State-linked rebels kill at least 10 people in eastern Congo

At least 10 people were killed in eastern Congo by extremist rebels linked to the Islamic State group, a local official said Wednesday.

3 Chinese citizens sentenced to 7 years in prison for illegal mining in Congo

Three Chinese citizens have been sentenced to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay $600,000 in fines for illegally exploiting mineral resources in Congo, according to court filings.

Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi speaks during a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Congo replaces top military chief and other senior officers as fighting in the east rages on

Congolese state media says President Felix Tshisekedi has replaced the armed forces chief and several other top military officers in a major reshuffle amid the ongoing fight against rebels in the country’s eastern region.

Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi speaks during a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Rwanda and Congo cancel peace talks to end a conflict in eastern Congo

Much anticipated peace talks between Congo and Rwanda have been unexpectedly canceled. Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame were set to meet Sunday in Angola, which has been mediating the conflict to put an end to a decades long conflict in eastern Congo between the

FILE - M23 rebels stand with theirs weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

Fighting in eastern Congo between army and rebels intensifies ahead of peace talks Sunday

The army says fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group has intensified in eastern Congo in recent days ahead of much anticipated peace talks on Sunday.

FILE - M23 rebels stand with their weapons in Kibumba, in the eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

Fighting resumes in eastern Congo despite ceasefire between army and rebels

Fighting between the Congolese army and the M23 rebel group has resumed in eastern Congo ahead of potential mediation talks.