Jordan Bita preferred to risk his life swimming across a roaring river than stay at home and be conscripted by rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The 25-year-old clung on to a black bin bag with some possessions as he used the strong currents to navigate his way across the Rusizi river, which forms the border between DR Congo and Burundi.

This was the last stage in a desperate journey to escape to safety in Burundi as the conflict in eastern DR Congo escalates, with M23 rebels capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu in the last five weeks.

“I managed to flee safely… because I was crossing through the forest and moving along the bushes instead of the main road,” he told the BBC after climbing up the bank on the Burundian side and wiping the water from his face.

“This is because M23 fighters are everywhere and they are forcing us to join them to fight against the government,” he said.

Burundian troops are monitoring the riverbank in Cibitoke province in the north-west where Congolese families are crossing.