Rwandan-backed M23 rebels marched into Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, on Monday, marking the worst escalation in a conflict that has plagued the region for over a decade. The U.N. has confirmed the involvement of Rwandan troops supporting the M23 militia, which now claims control of the city of over 2 million residents.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23, stated his forces had seized the lakeside city. However, the Congolese government countered this claim, asserting that its army controlled 80% of Goma, with Rwandan troops near the city’s outskirts or back across the border. Conflicting reports from U.N. officials, Congolese authorities, and local residents reflect the fluidity of the situation, as explosions, artillery, and gunfire echoed throughout the day.
The M23 rebels reportedly captured Congo’s national broadcaster offices, with staff confirming their presence. A Goma resident said he saw men wearing Rwandan military uniforms patrolling the city. Meanwhile, U.N. peacekeepers at the airport and their base came under heavy fire. “There are pockets of resistance,” a U.N. source noted, as fighting continued.
The conflict has also claimed civilian lives. An explosive device struck a displaced persons camp in Goma on Sunday, while artillery fire hit a maternity hospital, killing and injuring newborns and pregnant women, according to U.N. officials.
Congo accused Rwanda of sending troops across the border, a charge Rwanda denies. Rwanda, in turn, claimed Congolese shelling killed five people and injured 26 in its border town of Rubavu. Fighting between Congolese and Rwandan forces on Mount Goma and across the border in Gisenyi caused thousands to flee.
The U.N. Security Council is set to meet on Tuesday to address the crisis following Congo’s call for more decisive action, including targeted sanctions against Rwanda and demands for the withdrawal of its troops.
The capture of Goma by M23 rebels, last occupied by the group in 2012, has raised fears of prolonged instability. The city is a vital hub for humanitarian aid and home to many displaced people, heightening the urgency for international intervention. As fighting continues, the humanitarian toll and regional tensions are likely to escalate further.
