Gunfire echoed across Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, early Monday as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed control of the city despite international calls for an immediate end to hostilities. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Sunday to address the escalating conflict, which has displaced thousands and raised fears of a broader regional war.
Tension and Unrest in Goma
Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire near the airport, the city center, and the Rwandan border. “There is confusion in the city; here near the airport, we see soldiers. I have not seen the M23 yet,” said one resident, adding that looting had also been reported. Another resident described the situation as chaotic, with gunfire near strategic locations, although some believed the shots to be warning fire rather than active combat.
The rebels had reportedly issued an ultimatum for government soldiers to surrender by 0300 local time on Monday. According to Uruguay's military, which contributes troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUSCO), around 100 Congolese soldiers surrendered their weapons to Uruguayan peacekeepers.
Evacuation and Regional Response
In response to the volatile situation, MONUSCO staff and their families began evacuating across the border into Rwanda on Monday morning, with buses waiting to transport them to safety.
Kenya's President William Ruto, chair of the East African Community (EAC), announced an emergency meeting of regional heads of state to address the crisis. The EAC has previously deployed a regional force to eastern Congo, though its effectiveness remains limited.
M23’s Resurgence and Rwanda’s Role
The M23 rebel group, predominantly Tutsi-led, claims to protect Congo’s ethnic Tutsi population. The group’s current offensive marks the latest chapter in a series of conflicts that have plagued eastern Congo, a region rich in minerals but marred by decades of instability. The area remains a patchwork of rebel zones and militia-controlled territories, a legacy of two regional wars in the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
U.N. experts allege that Rwanda has deployed 3,000–4,000 troops and provided significant support, including missiles and snipers, to bolster M23. Kigali, however, denies direct involvement, instead accusing Kinshasa of provoking the conflict. “The fighting close to the Rwandan border continues to present a serious threat to Rwanda's security and territorial integrity, necessitating Rwanda's sustained defensive posture,” the Rwandan foreign ministry stated.
Global Condemnation
The United States, France, and Britain have condemned Rwanda's alleged support for the rebels, calling for an end to the violence and adherence to international agreements. The U.N. Security Council's emergency meeting underscored the humanitarian toll of the conflict, which has exacerbated one of the world’s worst ongoing crises.
Humanitarian Implications
The renewed violence has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes, adding to an already dire humanitarian situation in the region. Aid agencies warn of deteriorating conditions for displaced populations, many of whom lack access to basic necessities.
As tensions escalate, the international community faces mounting pressure to mediate a resolution to the conflict, prevent further displacement, and address the deep-rooted grievances fueling the unrest.
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