Home » M23 rebels capture Goma, spark crisis

M23 rebels capture Goma, spark crisis

M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, claimed control of Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, early Monday, escalating one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.

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File Source : The Guardian

M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, claimed control of Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, early Monday, escalating one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts. The United Nations described “mass panic” in the city of 2 million, while the Congolese government called the rebel advance a “declaration of war.”  

Gunfire rang out as the rebels captured Goma just before a 48-hour ultimatum for Congolese troops to surrender expired. In a statement, M23 urged residents to remain calm and directed Congolese soldiers to gather at the city’s stadium. Aid workers reported chaos as civilians fled in fear.  

The U.N.’s special representative to Congo, Bintou Keita, told the Security Council that M23 fighters, supported by Rwandan forces, entered Goma’s outskirts, causing panic and using residents as human shields. “M23 has declared the airspace over Goma closed. In other words, we are trapped,” Keita said, confirming the evacuation of nonessential U.N. personnel.  

Goma’s fall threatens to worsen the humanitarian crisis in North Kivu province, where over one-third of the population is displaced. Civilians fled camps near the Rwandan border amid heavy gunfire. “We saw soldiers throwing bombs and shooting,” said Safi Shangwe, a displaced woman. Another resident, Muahadi Amani, sought refuge in Rwanda, saying, “Security in the city is not guaranteed.”  

The Congolese government severed ties with Rwanda on Saturday, accusing it of direct aggression. Congo’s foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, said Rwanda’s actions were “a declaration of war.” Rwanda denied backing M23, blaming Congo’s government for failing to prevent the crisis.  

The United States and France urged an immediate ceasefire, with acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea warning of consequences for those fueling the conflict. The U.N. estimates up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are operating in Congo, despite Rwanda’s denials.  

This is the second time M23 has captured Goma, having briefly held the city in 2012. Residents like Bahati Jackson are bracing for the worst. “If we’re going to die, it’s better to die here,” he said, choosing to stay despite the uncertainty.  

As the conflict escalates, U.N. peacekeepers and Congolese forces are struggling to contain the rebel advance. Since 2021, a 14,000-strong U.N. mission and regional troops have worked to defend Goma, but recent weeks have seen significant M23 territorial gains, raising fears of further displacement and violence in the mineral-rich region.

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