Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo – Early on Monday, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group announced they had taken control of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that has plagued the mineral-rich region for years.
According to multiple sources, including eyewitness accounts and statements from the rebels themselves, M23 fighters marched into the city center, amidst the sound of heavy artillery and gunfire. The Congolese army and M23 rebels engaged in fierce clashes, with reports of cross-border exchanges of fire between Congolese forces and the Rwandan military, further complicating the situation.
The seizure of Goma has led to mass panic among its population of over a million, with thousands fleeing for safety. Reports from local residents describe scenes of chaos, with the airport closed, and instances of looting noted in various parts of the city. The M23 has issued calls for calm among the residents, suggesting that they control the situation and urging Congolese soldiers to surrender their weapons.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has labeled the advance as a “declaration of war” by Rwanda, accusing the neighboring country of direct involvement in the conflict. This has led to a diplomatic fallout, with Congo severing diplomatic ties with Rwanda over the weekend. International responses have been swift, with the United Nations condemning the escalation and urging both the M23 and Rwandan forces to cease hostilities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to all hostile actions and for Rwandan forces to withdraw from Congolese territory.
The UN’s peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, reported that its peacekeepers have been involved in the fighting, with several fatalities among the troops. The mission has also begun to relocate non-essential staff from Goma due to the deteriorating security situation.
The M23, led by ethnic Tutsis, claims its actions are to protect minority rights, asserting that previous peace agreements were not honored. However, the group is widely criticized for alleged war crimes and exploiting the region’s mineral wealth.
This latest bout of violence not only underscores the volatile dynamics in eastern Congo but also signals potential for broader regional conflict. The international community watches closely, with emergency meetings of the UN Security Council convened to address the crisis, fearing that the situation could spiral into a wider war, exacerbating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.