The M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the Congolese army to surrender. The rebels urged residents to remain calm and called on military personnel to assemble at a central stadium. The capture threatens to escalate one of Africa’s longest conflicts, displacing more civilians in the mineral-rich region. Over a third of North Kivu province’s population is already displaced, and the situation is expected to worsen. UN peacekeepers are processing surrendering soldiers, while Congo has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda, accusing it of supporting the rebels.
The UN has condemned the M23 offensive, supported by Rwandan forces, which has caused mass panic and trapped civilians. UN special representative Bintou Keita reported that M23 fighters are advancing, using residents as human shields, and have declared Goma’s airspace closed. The U.S. and France have called for a ceasefire and urged Rwanda to withdraw its support for M23. Recent violence has killed at least three UN peacekeepers and injured 11 others, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Congo’s army, supported by UN peacekeepers and regional forces, has been struggling to fend off the M23 offensive. Hundreds of civilians are fleeing towards Rwanda, while others remain trapped in Goma, fearing further violence. The conflict, rooted in ethnic and territorial disputes, has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with over 100 armed groups vying for control in eastern Congo. The situation remains dire, with no immediate resolution in sight.
