OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 10.00am
GOVERNMENT forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have retaken the eastern town of Bukavu from rebellious ethnic Tutsi soldiers, Justice Minister Mwenze Kongolo said on Tuesday morning.
Kongolo added that Bukavu’s airport had never been in rebel hands, contrary to news reports. “As I speak, the bandits are disappearing from Bukavu after government forces intervened,” Kongolo said.
The rebels, aparently Banyamulenge (ethnic Tutsis indigenous to the east of the country) began their rebellion on Sunday, following the removal of Rwandan Tutsis from the DRC armed forces by President Laurent Kabila. Banyamulenge and Rwandan Tutsis were instrumental in Kabila’s successful ouster last year of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
The rebellion began with the seizure of a state radio station, which the rebels used to accuse Kabila of “nepotism, corruption and bad government” adding they want to “liberate” the eastern region of Kivu.
The rebels were reported on Monday to have seized control of Goma and Bukavu, the capitals respectively of North and South Kivu.
Meanwhile, the capital Kinshasa remains under a curfew, with loyal troops maintaining a visible presence and staging road blocks in an attempt to arrest renegade Rwandan troops.