Bunagana, Democratic Republic of the Congo

{{for|the town in Uganda|Bunagana, Uganda}}

{{Infobox settlement

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|image_skyline = File:Bunagana.jpg

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|image_caption = An M23 rebel sits on a hill above Bunagana

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|pushpin_map_caption =Location in DR Congo

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|subdivision_name1 = North Kivu

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|subdivision_name2 = Rutshuru

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Bunagana is a small town in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu Province, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the border with Uganda. It served as the headquarters of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel militia in 2013{{cite news|last=Long|first=Nick|title=Refugees Flee to Uganda to Escape Renewed DRC Violence|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/more-refugees-enter-uganda-to-escape-drc-fighting-with-m-twenty-three/1782940.html|access-date=4 November 2013|newspaper=VOA|date=4 November 2013}} and has been occupied by M23 since 13 June 2022.{{Cite news |last=Sabiti |first=Djaffar |last2=Bujakera |first2=Stanis |date=2022-06-13 |title=Congo rebels seize eastern border town, army blames Rwanda |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-rebels-seize-key-eastern-border-town-local-activists-say-2022-06-13/ |access-date=2022-06-14}}

As of 13 October 2022, the rebels had consolidated their control on the area surrounding the town. The Congolese border post was operating under rebel control with ongoing commercial exchanges with Uganda.{{cite news |title=Nord-Kivu : la société civile déplore les 4 mois d’administration rebelle à Bunagana |url=https://www.radiookapi.net/2022/10/13/actualite/societe/nord-kivu-la-societe-civile-deplore-les-4-mois-dadministration-rebelle |access-date=14 October 2022 |work=Radio Okapi |date=13 October 2022 |language=fr}}

United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez has stated that “Rwandan support for M23 rebels who are attacking civilians, UN peacekeepers, and FARDC in Eastern DRC is unacceptable”{{cite tweet|number=1536448739879096321|user=SFRCdems|title=Rwandan support for M23 rebels who are attacking civilians, UN peacekeepers, and FARDC in eastern DRC is unacceptab…|date=13 June 2022}} and has called for Bureau of African Affairs to “immediately investigate and hold those responsible to account”{{cite tweet|number=1536448739879096321|user=SFRCdems|title=Rwandan support for M23 rebels who are attacking civilians, UN peacekeepers, and FARDC in eastern DRC is unacceptab…|date=13 June 2022}}

On 3 April 2023, AP reported that East African regional forces (EACRF), including a Ugandan contingent, had "regained" control of Bunagana. Ugandan contingent spokesman Capt. Kato Ahmad Hassan thanked the M23 rebels, saying “We appreciate the command of the M23 for being cooperative to the contingent, for according us a safe passage and for allowing us to occupy Bunagana.”

{{Cite news

|last=MALKIA |first=CHRISTINA

|last2=KABUMBA |first2=JUSTIN

|date=2023-04-03

|time=9:15 AM PST

|title=Ugandan forces take over east Congo town as M23 rebels leave

|language=en

|work=AP

|url=https://apnews.com/article/congo-drc-rwanda-m23-rebels-uganda-bunagana-58787acda1f5ebc0ee2b3de2cbb12491

|access-date=2025-02-17}}

However, the M23 continued to co-occupy Bunagana with the EACRF.{{cite web |url=https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/04/04/actualite/securite/nord-kivu-le-contingent-ougandais-de-leac-cohabite-avec-les-rebelles |title=Nord-Kivu : le contingent ougandais de l'EAC cohabite avec les rebelles du M23 à Bunagana(sources locales) |work=RadioOkapi |date=4 April 2023 |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413200543/https://www.radiookapi.net/2023/04/04/actualite/securite/nord-kivu-le-contingent-ougandais-de-leac-cohabite-avec-les-rebelles |url-status=live}}