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Heightened Tensions in Eastern DRC as Rebel Forces Threaten Goma
Tens of thousands of individuals are fleeing their homes in eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as rebel forces aggressively approach the city of Goma, a bustling urban center with a population exceeding one million. Reports from local media indicate the sounds of explosions and gunfire were evident late Sunday evening.
A spokesperson for the M23 rebel group informed Reuters that they plan to take control of Goma at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT). This announcement follows accusations from the DRC’s foreign minister, who claimed that Rwanda has effectively declared war by deploying troops across the border to back the M23 rebels. In contrast, Rwanda has responded by asserting that its military presence is strictly defensive.
The M23 movement has urged Congolese soldiers in Goma to surrender in order to prevent further bloodshed. This group has steadily gained control over significant portions of the mineral-rich eastern DRC since its resurgence in 2021, and has intensified its military operations in recent weeks as it makes rapid advances toward Goma.
The United Nations’ refugee agency reports that over 400,000 individuals have been displaced in North and South Kivu provinces—areas adjacent to Rwanda—since the beginning of 2025. Among those fleeing is Alice Feza, who expressed her despair after being uprooted from multiple locations including Kiwanja, Rutshuru, and Kibumba before arriving in Goma. “People are fleeing everywhere, and we don’t know where to go anymore. The war finds us here among host families; we now have nowhere to turn,” she stated.
Access to key routes surrounding Goma has been severely restricted, with the city’s airport rendered unusable for both evacuations and humanitarian assistance, according to UN officials. In light of these developments, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from DRC soil, while also urging the M23 rebels to halt their advances on Goma.
In a statement relayed through a spokesman, Guterres emphasized the need for Rwanda to “cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory” and called on the M23 to “immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.” The urgency of this plea escalated following clashes that resulted in the deaths of 13 soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces.
The UK government has echoed this call for an end to attacks on peacekeepers, while France’s representative at the UN, Nicolas de Rivière, reiterated the demand for Rwandan troop withdrawal. Both the DRC and UN officials assert that the M23 is receiving support from Rwanda, a claim that the Rwandan government has not denied. However, Rwandan leadership has countered by blaming the Congolese army for the hostilities, claiming they have breached a ceasefire agreement.
During a recent Security Council meeting, Rwanda’s UN representative, Ernest Rwamucyo, expressed regret that the international community largely condemned the M23 group without addressing the actions of the Congolese army. In addition, the UN has announced plans to evacuate all non-essential staff from Goma, although essential operations will continue within the DRC.
As the situation evolves, the humanitarian implications of this conflict remain dire, further complicating an already precarious environment for those caught in the turmoil.
Source
www.bbc.com