Gunfire has been reported in parts of Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), following the announcement by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that they have seized control of the city. This comes despite calls from the United Nations Security Council for an end to the offensive. The UN has condemned the takeover, stating it has caused “mass panic” among Goma’s two million residents.
The situation is further complicated by reports of fighting between DRC and Rwandan forces along their shared border, raising fears of a broader escalation. DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed the presence of Rwandan troops in Goma, while the M23 rebels claimed their victory just before a 48-hour deadline for Congolese troops to surrender expired.
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Two witnesses confirmed that M23 fighters had entered the centre of Goma, with one providing video footage showing armed men in the streets. As the rebels urged Goma’s residents to stay calm, the DRC government described the M23’s advance as a “declaration of war” by Rwanda. The city has been at the centre of intense fighting between M23 forces, the Congolese military, and UN peacekeepers in recent days.
The capture of Goma marks the latest development in a long-running conflict in the region, which has seen ethnic tensions, militia violence, and regional rivalries for over three decades. The ongoing instability in the mineral-rich eastern DRC has triggered a massive humanitarian crisis and raised concerns over the potential for a wider regional war.
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