Home News M23 Rebels Declare Control Over Goma Amidst Ongoing Conflict in DR Congo
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M23 Rebels Declare Control Over Goma Amidst Ongoing Conflict in DR Congo

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In a dramatic escalation of the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the M23 rebel group has claimed control over the strategic city of Goma. However, the DRC government disputes this assertion, stating that its forces still hold key strategic areas including the city’s airport. This development follows a rapid advance by the M23 against the Congolese army, leading to widespread displacement and chaos.

On Sunday, videos circulated online showing M23 fighters patrolling the main thoroughfares of Goma, a city of over a million residents, after fierce fighting that included hours of gunfire and explosions. The local populace, gripped by fear, witnessed tens of thousands fleeing from nearby towns as the rebels advanced, with many like Alice Feza, who has been displaced multiple times, expressing despair over their future. “People are fleeing everywhere, and we don’t know where to go anymore,” she lamented, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.

The conflict has intensified in recent weeks, with the M23 capturing significant swathes of mineral-rich territories in eastern DRC since 2021. The violence has resulted in over 400,000 people being displaced from North and South Kivu provinces in 2025 alone, according to the UN refugee agency.

In response to the crisis, Kenyan President William Ruto, who chairs the East African Community, has called for an immediate ceasefire and announced an emergency summit involving the leaders of both DRC and Rwanda to seek a peaceful resolution.

The DRC government has accused Rwanda of direct involvement by supporting the M23, a claim Rwanda does not refute, although it counters by accusing DRC of aiding militias that threaten Rwanda’s stability. This has led to a complex regional dynamic, with Rwanda’s UN representative, Ernest Rwamucyo, criticizing the international community for focusing solely on the M23 while ignoring alleged ceasefire violations by the Congolese army.

Amidst this turmoil, the infrastructure in Goma has suffered; key roads are blocked, and the airport, crucial for humanitarian and evacuation efforts, is no longer operational. Reports also mention heavy artillery strikes in the city center, a mass escape from a local prison, and disruptions in power and water supply. A security source confirmed to AFP that the prison was “totally torched,” leading to casualties and a significant security breach.

UN Secretary General António Guterres has condemned the violence, urging Rwanda to withdraw its support from M23 and its troops from DRC soil, and for M23 to halt its military actions. This call comes after the tragic loss of 13 peacekeepers in the conflict, prompting international concern, including from the UK and France, who have echoed Guterres’s demands for peace.

The situation remains fluid with local media and residents reporting continued gunfire, although some areas, like around the HEAL Africa hospital, are relatively calm according to Reverend Damiri. The M23’s ultimatum for Congolese soldiers to surrender by early Monday was partially heeded, with some soldiers surrendering their arms to UN peacekeepers.

This ongoing conflict not only threatens the stability of the region but also exacerbates one of Africa’s longest-standing humanitarian crises, with implications for international peacekeeping efforts and regional diplomacy

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