Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda on Saturday, citing Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel group’s advance on Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The escalating conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers and the displacement of thousands of civilians.
The M23, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis who defected from the DR Congo army over a decade ago, has recently made significant territorial gains, nearing Goma, a city of approximately 2 million people and a crucial hub for humanitarian and security operations.
The Congolese government, the United States, and UN experts accuse Rwanda of backing the M23, one of numerous armed groups vying for control in the resource-rich eastern region. This ongoing conflict has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Rwanda denies supporting the rebels but acknowledged last year that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo for security reasons, citing a build-up of Congolese forces near the border. UN experts estimate up to 4,000 Rwandan forces are present in Congo. The DR Congo Foreign Ministry announced the severing of diplomatic ties and the immediate withdrawal of all diplomatic staff from Rwanda late Saturday. Rwanda has not yet commented.
The UN Security Council expedited an emergency meeting on the violence to Sunday, following a request from DR Congo.The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday.
Heavy gunfire echoed across Goma on Sunday morning, several kilometres from the front lines. Scores of displaced people fled Kanyaruchinya camp, one of eastern Congo’s largest displacement camps near the Rwandan border, heading south towards Goma.
“We are fleeing because we saw soldiers on the border with Rwanda throwing bombs and shooting,” said Safi Shangwe, describing her reason for fleeing to Goma. “We are tired and we are afraid, our children are at risk of starving,” she added.
Others expressed concerns about safety in Goma itself. “We are going to Goma, but I heard that there are bombs in Goma, too, so now we don’t know where to go,” said Adèle Shimiye.
Hundreds attempted to cross into Rwanda at border crossings east of Goma on Sunday, with migration officers meticulously examining travel documents. “I am crossing to the other side to see if we will have a place of refuge because for the moment, security in the city is not guaranteed,” Muahadi Amani, a Goma resident, told the Associated Press.
Earlier this week, the rebels captured Sake, 27 kilometres (16 miles) from Goma, increasing fears of the city falling. DR Congo army reported repelling an M23 offensive on Saturday with the assistance of allied forces, including UN troops and soldiers from the Southern African Development Community Mission (SAMIDRC).
Two South African peacekeepers were killed on Friday, and a Uruguayan soldier died on Saturday, according to a UN official who spoke to the Associated Press anonymously due to a lack of authorisation to speak publicly. Three Malawian peacekeepers were also killed in eastern DR Congo, the United Nations in Malawi announced on Saturday. The South African Defence Department reported the deaths of seven South African SAMIDRC soldiers in clashes with M23 over the previous two days.
Since 2021, DR Congo government forces and allied troops, including SAMIDRC and UN troops, have prevented M23 from reaching Goma. The UN peacekeeping force, MONUSCO, with approximately 14,000 peacekeepers, has been present in Congo for over two decades.
The UN Secretary-General expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, strongly condemning the M23 offensive and its advance towards Goma, which he attributed to support from the Rwandan Defence Forces. In the preceding 48 hours, two South African and one Uruguayan MONUSCO peacekeepers were killed, and 11 others were injured.
The Secretary-General expressed condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, commended the bravery of UN peacekeepers, and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
He called for an investigation into the deaths of peacekeepers, a ceasefire, an end to support for the M23 by the Rwandan Defence Forces, and the withdrawal of both the M23 and Rwandan forces from Congolese territory. He also reaffirmed UN support for the Luanda process and urged the immediate resumption of negotiations.
