DRC’s Goma in the Hands of M23 Rebels

DRC’s Goma in the Hands of M23 Rebels

M23 rebels have reportedly made significant advances toward the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sparking fears of a broader conflict despite government claims to still control key areas, including the city’s airport.

Following intense clashes on Sunday, videos shared by residents appeared to show M23 rebels patrolling the streets of Goma, while reports of gunfire and explosions resonated throughout the city. Local media have indicated that, after hours of violence, the city, home to more than a million people, has become eerily quiet, though the situation remains tense.

The rebel group’s swift progress has forced tens of thousands of people to flee from nearby towns like Kiwanja, Rutshuru, and Kibumba, further complicating an already dire humanitarian crisis. One resident, Alice Feza, described the ongoing displacement, saying, “People are fleeing everywhere, and we don’t know where to go anymore, because we started fleeing a long time ago.”

Soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) prepare to escort health workers attached to ebola response programs on May 18, 2019 in Butembo, north of Kivu. – The town of Butembo is at the heart of the Ebola crisis in the North-Kivu province. Ebola treatment centres (ETC’s) have come under attack frequently by alleged Mai-Mai rebel groups hampering the response. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP)

While the M23 rebels assert that they have taken control of the city, the Congolese government has denied these claims. In a statement issued early Monday, the government maintained that its forces still control “strategic points,” including the Goma airport. “The FARDC [the DR Congo army] hold the Goma airport… and all the strategic points of the capital of the North Kivu Province,” the statement read, adding that the army is determined to protect the nation’s sovereignty.

Despite these assertions, local reports suggest confusion in Goma, with some areas seeing looting and others continuing to experience sporadic gunfire. Reverend Damiri, a chaplain at the HEAL Africa hospital in Goma, described the situation as “complicated,” noting that heavy artillery had struck the city’s center and that some prisoners had reportedly escaped from a local prison.

As of Monday, key roads surrounding Goma have been blocked, and the city’s airport is no longer functional for evacuations or humanitarian efforts. The UN has raised concerns about the worsening situation, reporting that the violence has displaced over 400,000 people in the North and South Kivu provinces since the beginning of 2025.

The conflict has also escalated into a diplomatic standoff. DR Congo’s foreign minister accused neighboring Rwanda of “declaring war” by supporting the M23 rebels. Rwanda has acknowledged backing the M23, but insists that it is responding to the threat posed by militias in DR Congo who it claims are aligned with the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

In response to the crisis, Kenya, currently chairing the East African Community, has called for an immediate ceasefire and announced that the presidents of DR Congo and Rwanda will attend an emergency regional summit within the next two days. Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized the importance of regional leaders facilitating a peaceful resolution.

The M23, originally formed in 2012 as a breakaway faction from another rebel group, claims to be defending the Tutsi minority in eastern DR Congo. However, the group’s increasing control over vast, mineral-rich territories in the region has raised suspicions about Rwanda’s motivations, with critics accusing the country of using the rebels to loot valuable minerals, including gold, cobalt, and tantalum.

In addition to the growing refugee crisis, the situation has claimed the lives of several peacekeepers. The UN confirmed that 13 peacekeepers were killed in clashes with the M23, prompting calls from the UK and France for an end to attacks on peacekeeping forces. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Rwanda to withdraw its support for the rebels and for M23 forces to cease their advance and leave occupied areas.

As the situation unfolds, the international community continues to monitor developments, with growing concern over the impact of the conflict on the region’s stability and the well-being of its people.

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