Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan 27 — M23 rebels entered the center of Goma on Monday, claiming to have captured the strategic city despite calls from the United Nations Security Council to halt their offensive. Witnesses reported gunfire near the airport, the city center, and the border with Rwanda.
Confusion gripped the lakeside city as residents reported mixed control of key areas. “There are soldiers near the airport, but I haven’t seen the M23 yet,” one resident said. Looting was also reported, with stores being ransacked near the airport.
At Goma’s airport, elements of the Congolese army and United Nations peacekeepers remained present, according to local officials and a U.N. source. Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, chairman of the Air Transport Authority, confirmed the military’s control of the airport, while unverified social media videos showed heavily armed fighters, believed to be M23, patrolling northern suburbs.
The rebel alliance, reportedly backed by Rwanda, had demanded government troops surrender by 3 a.m. Monday. Uruguay’s military, part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, said 100 Congolese soldiers handed over their weapons to Uruguayan troops. MONUSCO staff and families began evacuating to Rwanda, with 10 buses stationed at the border for the transfer.
Broader Conflict and Regional Implications
The M23 advance has displaced thousands in Congo’s mineral-rich eastern regions, raising fears of a renewed regional war. The eastern borderlands, historically volatile, are plagued by a patchwork of rebel groups and militia zones that have persisted since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Kenyan President William Ruto, chair of the East African Community (EAC), announced an emergency summit to address the crisis. The U.N. Security Council held urgent talks on Sunday, with the United States, France, and Britain condemning Rwanda’s alleged support for the rebels. U.N. experts have accused Rwanda of deploying 3,000-4,000 troops and providing advanced weaponry, including missiles, to the M23.
Rwanda’s government rejected the accusations, instead blaming Kinshasa for escalating tensions. “The fighting near our border poses a serious threat to Rwanda’s security and requires a defensive stance,” its foreign ministry stated. Kigali dismissed international condemnations as unhelpful and said the focus should be on resolving underlying issues.
