Augustin Bitunguramye, a taxi-moto rider in Goma, the capital of DR Congo's North Kivu Province, on Thursday, January 30, said there was a sense of security after the AFC/M23 rebels captured the city on Monday. Bitunguramye, 28, said taxi-moto riders no longer had to pay unnecessary taxes to corrupt Congolese soldiers (FARDC), or their allies, the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, who used to control the city’s streets. “We are okay with M23. They don't force us to pay taxes. We are working, freely,” he told The New Times. “Even if you want to move around at night you will do so without any fear. Wazalendo and FARDC are no longer causing trouble here. We are no longer being harassed. There is no more marijuana here. There is no FARDC or FDLR here!” VIDEO: What's life like in rebel-controlled city of Goma As gunfire had died down in Goma by Thursday, Ugandan businesswoman Mahya Kansiime, who has lived in the city for over a decade, strolled for about 15 minutes from her home to Avenue La Corniche near Serena Hotel. I walked here because the boda bodas (taxi-motos) are now very expensive and I also wanted to check the neighbourhood and see how everything is going on in town,” Kansiime told The New Times. “Some shops are open and some taxi minibuses are working, but the town is calm.” ALSO READ: Timeline of events before and after M23 entered Goma For Kansiime, the M23 rebels have positively turned things around in the few days they had held control of Goma. I take a walk because I feel secure with M23 around. When the FARDC (Congolese army) was around, you couldn't just move around without them asking you for money or grabbing your phone, or anything,” she said. “My observation is that the town is calm and safe now. It was only on Monday that there was a lot of shooting and bombing. ALSO READ: What does the capture of Goma mean for M23 group and their grievances? Late on Wednesday, The New Times team met Mamouda Mariam, another resident of Goma, who said that business was still slow. “But people are happy that the gun battles between M23 rebels and government forces are over,” she said. Mariam, who was on her way home on a scooter, bumped into M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma and his troops, before she quickly braked in the middle of the road and ran to hug him. “Today, I am taking a ride on my bike and moving around town without fear,” Mariam said. “I must go home now because it is evening. We hope for the best since they [M23] are here now.