Rebels Claim Control Over Major City in Eastern Congo
Rebels backed by Rwanda have reportedly advanced into the heart of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, as violence escalates in a region suffering from one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Witnesses indicate that the M23 militia, predominantly composed of Tutsi fighters, claims to have taken over the lakeside city, although independent verification of this assertion remains elusive.
Gunfire was reported near the airport and in the city center, with local residents describing ongoing clashes between government-aligned militias and M23 fighters. One resident described the atmosphere as chaotic, stating, 'Nearby the airport, we can see soldiers, but I haven't seen the M23.' Reports of looting in shops have also surfaced, further illustrating the turmoil in the area.
The eastern borderlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo have long been embroiled in conflict, a situation exacerbated by two regional wars that followed the Rwandan genocide in 1994, during which approximately one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. The M23 is the latest in a succession of Tutsi-led rebel groups that have received support from Rwanda, previously capturing Goma in 2012 before withdrawing shortly after due to diplomatic pressures.
Currently, the DRC is home to over 100 armed groups, particularly concentrated in the eastern regions of the country, which is rich in valuable mineral resources and has attracted the interest of various multinational corporations.
Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes the M23, stated that their forces are in control of Goma, claiming that government soldiers have begun to surrender. However, Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, head of the Congolese Civil Aviation Authority, insisted that the army still retains control over the airport.
In a related development, 100 Congolese soldiers reportedly surrendered their weapons to Uruguayan troops serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO) at the rebels' request. Meanwhile, the UN team has begun evacuating personnel and their families to Rwanda, with buses waiting to transport them.
Social media platforms have witnessed the circulation of unverified videos showing local residents looting goods from the airport customs area and armed men, believed to be M23 fighters, moving through the northern suburbs of the city. Reports indicate that 26 Congolese soldiers and one police officer crossed into Rwanda to surrender.
The humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict has been severe, with thousands fleeing the city of Gisenyi in Rwanda towards the capital, Kigali, as the sounds of conflict in Goma grew louder.
The capture of Goma in 2012 led to the establishment of a new UN offensive force and prompted diplomatic efforts to reform the Congolese army, ultimately leading to the M23's defeat the following year and a call for their disarmament. However, the group has failed to completely disarm and launched a new offensive in 2022, seizing large areas of the mineral-rich North Kivu province, including lucrative coltan mines.
The M23 claims to exist to protect the Tutsi population of Congo from the Congolese government and Hutu militias. UN experts allege that Rwanda has deployed between 3,000 and 4,000 soldiers and provided significant military support, including missiles and snipers, to assist the M23.
Since the beginning of the year, the rebel advances have displaced hundreds of thousands, contributing to a total of over three million internally displaced persons in eastern Congo as of 2024, according to UN estimates.
The United Nations Security Council discussed the crisis recently, with the United States, France, and the United Kingdom condemning what they described as Rwanda's support for the rebels. In contrast, Kigali has dismissed these claims, accusing the Congolese government of undermining negotiations with the M23 and supporting Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
Rwanda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that the ongoing conflict near its border poses a serious threat to national security and territorial integrity, necessitating a sustained defensive posture. Additionally, Kenyan President William Ruto, leading the East African Community, is set to convene an emergency meeting with heads of state to address the escalating situation.
