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Rebels seize town of Ihusi in east DR Congo, continue their offensive

The hostilities continued despite a ceasefire, announced by the rebels on February 4

PRETORIA, February 6. /TASS/. Rebels from the M23 movement, supported by the Rwandan army, seized the town of Ihusi in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo near Bukavu, the administrative center of the South Kivu province, the RFI radio reported citing DR Congo’s National Assembly (lower house) speaker Vital Kamerhe.

"They [M23 members] are now in the town of Ihusi," he said.

After fierce fighting, M23 forces captured another South Kivu city of Nyabibwe on Wednesday. The hostilities continued despite a ceasefire in the east of DR Congo, announced by the rebels on February 4.

Ihusi is located just 11 kilometers away from Kavumu Airport, servicing Bukavu, the administrative center of the South Kivu province. The airport, which is roughly 25 kilometers away from Bukavu, serves as a major transit hub for humanitarian and other cargoes flowing into South Kivu and is guarded by the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

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