Hundreds of refugees, surrendering Congolese soldiers, and stranded truckers swarmed the Rwandan border on Tuesday, seeking safety after the rebel group M23 seized the Congolese city of Goma. The capture of the city triggered a mass exodus, leaving many desperate to escape the violence.
Gunfire and explosions echoed from Goma late on Monday and into early Tuesday in Rubavu district, on Rwanda’s northeast frontier with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Throughout the night, families and individuals, burdened with mattresses and a few belongings, waited anxiously at the border as Rwanda-backed M23 fighters advanced.
Rwanda Opens Border to Refugees
At daybreak on Tuesday, Rwandan authorities began admitting the refugees. Many crossed the border with their hands raised in relief and gratitude.
“We saw and heard terrible things. Dead bodies, gunshots, bombs,” said Alois Emmanuel Bebe, a Tanzanian trucker among 47 drivers seeking refuge after being cut off by the conflict in eastern Congo.
The latest escalation in the three-year insurgency has displaced approximately 400,000 people since the beginning of the year, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Rwanda’s Role and Ongoing Accusations
As in previous conflicts in the region, some refugees have sought shelter in Rwanda. However, Congo and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of fueling the crisis by supporting M23 with troops and weapons—an allegation Rwanda denies.
Families carrying colorfully wrapped bundles waited on Tuesday to be registered at an open-air refugee reception center in Gisenyi, a Rwandan border town. Small children clung to their mothers, who also carried babies strapped to their backs or fronts.
Congolese Soldiers Surrender in Rwanda
Rwandan authorities have also processed a number of Congolese soldiers fleeing the conflict. In a large hall in Gisenyi, dozens of men sat on the floor, watched over by the Rwanda Defence Force. Some wore army boots and fatigues with the Congolese insignia, while others were in civilian clothing. Several soldiers received medical treatment for cuts and minor injuries.
Vincent Karega, Rwanda’s regional ambassador, confirmed that 102 Congolese soldiers surrendered by voluntarily crossing into Rwanda on Monday.
“More continue to cross today. They run away from the battles,” Karega told Reuters, adding that the soldiers would be treated like other refugees once disarmed and registered. “They will return home at will when it suits them, or decide to go into exile in Rwanda or elsewhere.”
Uncertain Numbers, Growing Crisis
The exact number of citizens and soldiers fleeing to Rwanda remains unclear. As of November, Congolese nationals made up over 56% of the 114,461 refugees registered in Rwanda, according to the U.N. refugee agency.
