Residents in Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, are fleeing amid escalating violence after Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed to have captured the regional hub from Congolese forces. Fighting has intensified over recent days, with the United Nations Security Council urging the insurgents to withdraw. Gunshots echoed throughout Goma overnight as armed rebels, dressed in military uniforms, marched into the capital of North Kivu province early Monday morning. The situation remains tense with no confirmation from the Congolese government regarding the fall of Goma, situated 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) east of the capital, Kinshasa. This escalation follows Congo's severing of ties with Rwanda on Saturday.
The M23 rebels are among approximately 100 armed groups vying for influence in the mineral-rich region, which has been embroiled in conflict for decades, one of Africa’s largest. The rebels had previously seized Goma in 2012 but were forced out due to international pressure. They resurfaced in late 2021 with increased support from Rwanda, a claim denied by the Rwandan government, according to the Congolese administration and United Nations experts. Analysts have cautioned that the latest conflicts could exacerbate the volatility of a region already facing one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, with over 6 million people displaced. According to a U.N. report, more than a third of North Kivu's population is currently among the displaced.
In a statement on Sunday, the United Nations Security Council called on the M23 rebels to immediately retract their advances. The Security Council members expressed their condemnation of the ongoing violations against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), urging the M23 to cease establishing parallel administrations within DRC territory. The rebels announced on Monday that they had captured Goma just as a deadline for Congolese security forces to surrender was approaching. They requested the Congolese military to gather at the central stadium in Goma and encouraged the local population to remain calm.
Officials from the Congolese government characterized the situation as a "war state," accusing Rwanda of direct aggression. The recent downturn in relations follows unsuccessful attempts at diplomatic dialogues between the two nations, resulting in Congo cutting ties with Rwanda this past weekend. The M23 rebels’ advance into Goma is viewed as the culmination of enduring clashes between the insurgents and Congolese security forces, which saw numerous towns near the Rwandan border fall under rebel control.
In response to the escalating violence, hundreds of Goma residents have been fleeing to Rwanda, traveling along heavily trafficked roads in an attempt to reach safety. Many were seen carrying their belongings on their backs and heads through the night and into the following morning. A fleeing resident, Safi Shangwe, reported witnessing soldiers near the border with Rwanda launching bombs and engaging in gunfire. The U.N. special representative for Congo, Bintou Keita, stated during an emergency meeting that “we are trapped,” noting that the airport was closed and roads were obstructed.
In the past week, at least 13 U.N. peacekeepers have lost their lives amid the hostilities. The U.N. peacekeeping force (MONUSCO), established over 20 years ago, currently has around 14,000 peacekeepers deployed in the region. According to a statement from the Uruguayan army, which operates within Goma as part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission, more than 100 Congolese soldiers have surrendered.
