Rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), led by the M23 group, have reportedly claimed the capture of the city of Goma in the country’s eastern region, a source from a Western media outlet confirmed. This assertion follows a series of escalating attacks in the region, which have seen the M23 rebels and the Rwandan military advance into the suburbs of Goma, North Kivu’s provincial capital.
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), headed by Bintou Keita, reported that the rebels, in coordination with Rwandan military forces, launched an assault on the outskirts of Goma. In response, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the DRC, urging both sides to halt the violence.
The leader of the rebel alliance, which includes the M23 group, announced that government troops in the DRC must surrender by 03:00 local time (02:00 GMT). This demand came amid heightened tensions and ongoing military confrontations.
The M23’s resurgence has raised alarms internationally. Back in July 2022, the DRC accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels in the eastern DRC, while Rwanda denied the allegations. The two nations have long been locked in a conflict over border issues, with both sides blaming each other for shelling border areas.
A summit in Angola between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in 2022 sought to de-escalate the crisis. However, the roadmap that was agreed upon for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the unconditional withdrawal of M23 militants has failed to produce results. The M23 rebels have openly rejected the roadmap, stating they do not consider themselves bound by its terms, further deepening the conflict and complicating diplomatic efforts.
