In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, entered Goma on Monday, sparking intense clashes and a rising humanitarian crisis. The city, home to over two million people, has been a major hub for displaced persons and aid groups and was last occupied by the M23 militia in 2012.
According to a statement from Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23, the group has seized control of Goma. “We are in control of the city, although the army is starting to surrender,” he said, though this claim could not be independently verified. Gunfire and the sound of artillery echoed through the city, with videos posted on social media showing armed men running across the Goma airport grounds.
Residents reported hearing gunshots from various areas of the city, with one individual describing a rocket landing near a church in the northeastern Majengo neighborhood. Military clashes also took place between Congolese forces and M23 fighters in other districts.
Congolese officials have accused Rwanda of sending troops into their territory, calling it an act of aggression. “Rwanda is orchestrating carnage,” said a government spokesperson, urging citizens to stay indoors and avoid looting. At the same time, heavy artillery exchanges were reported between Congolese and Rwandan troops along the border in Gisenyi, with civilians fleeing the violence.
As the city descended into chaos, videos surfaced of local residents looting goods from the airport’s customs warehouse. Adding to the unrest, a prison break occurred overnight, with thousands of inmates escaping from Goma’s main prison.
The city of Goma, already a refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals, now faces the risk of further displacement, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. Eastern Congo, rich in natural resources, has long been a battleground for armed groups, especially following the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when waves of Hutu refugees, some responsible for the genocide, fled into Congo.
The conflict has drawn international concern, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that the M23 offensive could trigger a larger regional conflict. Nations including the U.S., Britain, and France have called for restraint, while Rwanda, defending its actions, accused the international community of failing to remember the lessons of the genocide.
The M23’s control of key mineral areas, including the Rubaya coltan mine, has further complicated matters. U.N. experts report that the group has been involved in the illegal export of valuable minerals, raising suspicions that Rwanda is using the M23 to access these resources. Kigali has denied these claims.
While the M23 withdrew from Goma after occupying it in 2012 under international pressure, the militia never fully disbanded. In 2022, the group launched a fresh offensive, seizing large portions of the mineral-rich North Kivu province, and now threatens to destabilize the region even further.
In a recent interview, Nangaa outlined the group’s broader goals, including replacing President Félix Tshisekedi’s government. “Our objective is to restore the state of Congo, which has been weak for too long,” he stated. The situation remains volatile, with both local and international stakeholders calling for urgent diplomatic intervention to prevent further escalation.