DR Congo Cuts Ties with Rwanda as M23 Rebels Intensify Fighting and Advance into Goma

The M23 rebels said on Monday that they had taken control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This comes after weeks of fighting that have forced thousands to flee and resulted in deaths, including peacekeepers and a top military official.

The M23 group, formed in 2012 by ethnic Tutsis who left the Congolese army, has recently captured several key locations. On Thursday, they seized Sake, just 27 kilometres from Goma. They took over Minova, a port town on Lake Kivu, and Katale and Masisi, all near the city.

On Friday, North Kivu’s Governor, Maj. Gen. Peter Cirimwami died from injuries he got while visiting troops fighting the rebels. His death came as fighting grew more intense in areas close to Goma. The clashes have also led to the deaths of 13 UN peacekeepers. Over the weekend, there was heavy gunfire near Goma’s airport and along the border with Rwanda. Thousands of people tried crossing the Rwanda border, but it was closed, leaving many stranded.

The DRC government accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies despite evidence from UN experts. On Saturday, the DRC cut diplomatic ties with Rwanda. During an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting on Sunday, DRC’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of sending additional troops into DRC in violation of its sovereignty. Rwanda denies these claims.

Additional Rwandan troops have crossed the boundary markers 12 and 13 of the crossing between Goma and Gisenyi, penetrating into our land in broad daylight, in open and deliberate violation of our national sovereignty, she said.

Wagner described Rwanda’s actions as “a declaration of war” and called on international communities to act. Rwanda, in turn, blamed the DRC for supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia formed by Hutus who fled after the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Rwanda’s UN ambassador, Ernest Rwamucyo, called on the DRC to remove the FDLR.

By Monday morning, M23 fighters had entered parts of Goma, and videos showed them in some neighbourhoods. The group announced they had taken the city just before the 48-hour deadline for Congolese troops to surrender expired. However, reports suggest Congolese forces and allied militias resist in some areas.

Goma is home to two million people and is an essential trade and humanitarian work centre. Its airport is critical for delivering supplies, making the city a valuable target for the rebels. The East African Community bloc plans to hold an emergency meeting within 48 hours to discuss the crisis.

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