Rwandan-backed rebels enter Congo’s Goma in major escalation

Rebels backed by Rwanda entered Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, on Monday, and the U.N. reported that at least some regular Rwandan soldiers were providing support, marking the most severe escalation of a prolonged conflict in over a decade.

A rebel coalition led by the Tutsi-dominated M23 militia announced it had taken control of the lakeside city, home to over 2 million residents, which serves as a center for displaced individuals and aid organizations, situated on the Rwanda border and last held by M23 in 2012. Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance that encompasses the M23, informed Reuters that his troops governed the city. His assertion could not be independently confirmed due to varying reports about the situation, as the noise of explosions, heavy artillery, and gunfire echoed throughout the day.

On Monday night, Rural Development Minister Muhindo Nzangi stated that the Congolese military had control over 80% of Goma, while Rwandan soldiers were either just outside the city or back over the border. The speaker of Congo’s national assembly, Vital Kamerhe, mentioned that a military evaluation indicated that government forces and allied militias still maintained certain positions. He indicated that President Felix Tshisekedi would speak to the nation regarding the issue, but did not specify a date.

However, another Congolese official, who asked to remain unnamed because of the delicate nature of the situation, along with M23 sources, indicated that the rebels controlled 90% of Goma.  “There are pockets of resistance,” a U.N. source said. “But even our troops are coming under heavy fire, both at the airport and at our (peacekeeping) base.”

The M23 said earlier on Monday that it had taken control of the offices of Congo’s national broadcaster in Goma, and two employees there confirmed the information. At a briefing in New York, the senior U.N. official in Congo, Bruno Lemarquis, told reporters fighting was ongoing.

“There’s no question that there are Rwandan troops in Goma supporting the M23,” U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters at the same livestreamed event. “It’s difficult to tell exactly what the numbers are.”

One Goma resident told Reuters he had seen men in Rwandan army uniforms on Monday.

“At around 6 p.m., I went out to (see) what the situation was. I saw soldiers dressed in brand new Rwandan uniforms,” the resident of central Goma said. Greg Ramm, country director for the Save the Children humanitarian organization in Congo, told an online briefing: “On any given moment, we have reports that neighbourhoods are calm. A few minutes later, we hear reports of new shelling.”

In the first indication of civilian casualties in the fighting, Save the Children officials said an explosive device had fallen on a camp for displaced people in Goma on Sunday. Artillery fire also struck a maternity hospital, killing and injuring civilians, including newborns and pregnant women, Lemarquis said. The U.N. Security Council will meet again on Tuesday to discuss the crisis after a first meeting on Sunday, diplomats said. Congo’s foreign ministry had written to the Security Council on Monday asking for a second meeting and more action from the U.N., including targeted sanctions against Rwanda and an order to withdraw troops.

Unverified videos circulating on social media depicted local residents stealing goods from outside the airport customs facility, while a prison authority reported that thousands of prisoners had escaped from Goma’s central prison.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals forced from their homes due to recent battles or previous conflicts have sought shelter in Goma and nearby camps. The entry of M23 rebels into the city threatens to trigger a fresh displacement and humanitarian emergency.  Around the size of Western Europe, the Democratic Republic of Congo has a population of 100 million, and its abundant mineral resources have consistently attracted the interest of both Chinese and Western companies, along with armed factions.

The eastern border regions are a volatile mix of rebel and militia territories originating from two regional conflicts following Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, during which Hutu extremists killed nearly 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Numerous Hutus, including certain genocide offenders and additional refugees, escaped into Congo following the genocide.

The U.N. has cautioned that the M23 campaign threatens to escalate into a regional conflict. Kenya announced that the president of Congo and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, had confirmed their participation in an online meeting on Wednesday. In recent years, Rwanda has gained aid and diplomatic backing from Western nations, even though rights organizations have condemned its record domestically and in Congo. On Monday, it responded with anger to the criticism from Western countries.

Congo blames Rwanda for utilizing M23 to seize large areas of Congolese land for mineral exploitation, a claim that Kigali refutes.

M23 took control of Goma in 2012 but quickly retreated following a deal facilitated by neighboring countries. This resulted in the establishment of a newly offensive-oriented U.N. force, a reform of Congo’s military, and increased diplomatic pressure on Rwanda, culminating in the M23’s defeat in 2013 and an agreement for its disbandment. However, the group never completely disarmed and initiated a new offensive in 2022 that resulted in its capture of extensive areas in the mineral-rich North Kivu province.

In a pre-Goma offensive interview, Nangaa, the leader of the alliance, implied that it aimed to oust Tshisekedi and his administration. “Our aim is not Goma or Bukavu but Kinshasa, which is the root of all issues,” he stated, mentioning the Congolese capital, located over 1,500 km (930 miles) to the west of Goma.