Many police officers and soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo decided to join a rebel group called AFC/M23. On Saturday, February 22nd, more than 2,100 police officers and 890 soldiers in the city of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, chose to join the rebel group. The AFC/M23 rebels took control of the city just last week.
This happened only a few days after the rebels welcomed hundreds of government soldiers into their group. Those soldiers gave up fighting against the rebels when the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, was captured in January.
Bertrand Bisimwa, an important leader of AFC/M23, used social media to discuss what happened. He said the police officers and soldiers in Bukavu made a brave choice to join the rebels. They want to work together to improve life for everyone in DR Congo.
The Congolese army, which is called FARDC, has been fighting against the AFC/M23 rebels since January. FARDC works with many other groups, like soldiers from Burundi and South Africa, United Nations peacekeepers, and even some people from Europe who are paid to fight. There is also a dangerous group called FDLR that helps FARDC. FDLR is a terrorist group that wants to hurt many people in Rwanda.
The fighting between FARDC and the rebels has been very intense. On January 27th, the rebels captured the city of Goma after FARDC broke an agreement to stop fighting. The rebels moved quickly to make Goma safe and peaceful again.
Later, problems developed in South Kivu. People reported violence and theft by the Congolese army and their helpers. The rebels decided to help. They first took control of an important airport called Kavumu. Then, on February 15th, they captured the city of Bukavu. Many people in Bukavu had asked the rebels to come and protect them.
The people living in the areas now controlled by the rebels feel much safer. They are happy that the Congolese army and their friends are not causing trouble anymore.
The United Nations Security Council met on Friday. They agreed that the rebels should stop fighting and move forward. However, they did not discuss some of the biggest reasons for the problems in eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda has tried to explain that there are serious issues in DR Congo. Some groups of people who speak the Kinyarwanda language are being treated very badly. This is one of the main reasons why the M23 rebels started fighting years ago.
The AFC rebels want to make things better in DR Congo. They believe in protecting the rights of all people and fixing the causes of the fighting. The rebel leaders have promised to stop bad things like tribalism, unfairness, corruption, and the dangerous ideas that led to the genocide in Rwanda.
This happened only a few days after the rebels welcomed hundreds of government soldiers into their group. Those soldiers gave up fighting against the rebels when the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, was captured in January.
Bertrand Bisimwa, an important leader of AFC/M23, used social media to discuss what happened. He said the police officers and soldiers in Bukavu made a brave choice to join the rebels. They want to work together to improve life for everyone in DR Congo.
The Congolese army, which is called FARDC, has been fighting against the AFC/M23 rebels since January. FARDC works with many other groups, like soldiers from Burundi and South Africa, United Nations peacekeepers, and even some people from Europe who are paid to fight. There is also a dangerous group called FDLR that helps FARDC. FDLR is a terrorist group that wants to hurt many people in Rwanda.
The fighting between FARDC and the rebels has been very intense. On January 27th, the rebels captured the city of Goma after FARDC broke an agreement to stop fighting. The rebels moved quickly to make Goma safe and peaceful again.
Later, problems developed in South Kivu. People reported violence and theft by the Congolese army and their helpers. The rebels decided to help. They first took control of an important airport called Kavumu. Then, on February 15th, they captured the city of Bukavu. Many people in Bukavu had asked the rebels to come and protect them.
The people living in the areas now controlled by the rebels feel much safer. They are happy that the Congolese army and their friends are not causing trouble anymore.
The United Nations Security Council met on Friday. They agreed that the rebels should stop fighting and move forward. However, they did not discuss some of the biggest reasons for the problems in eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda has tried to explain that there are serious issues in DR Congo. Some groups of people who speak the Kinyarwanda language are being treated very badly. This is one of the main reasons why the M23 rebels started fighting years ago.
The AFC rebels want to make things better in DR Congo. They believe in protecting the rights of all people and fixing the causes of the fighting. The rebel leaders have promised to stop bad things like tribalism, unfairness, corruption, and the dangerous ideas that led to the genocide in Rwanda.
