AFRICA/DR CONGO - Escalation of violence in North Kivu: M23 rebels advance towards Goma

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - The North Kivu region, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is facing a serious escalation of violence, with intense fighting between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwandan soldiers. For their part, government troops are supported by Burundian soldiers, the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), the blue helmets of MONUSCO and Wazilendo militiamen.
The advance of the rebels has been significant, managing to conquer the towns of Mumbambiro and Sake, located just 30 km from the city of Goma, capital of North Kivu. In recent days, fighting has focused on strategic arteries such as Sake-Kirotshe, Sake-Mushaki and Sake-Kitshanga. The heavy fighting in Sake has triggered a new mass exodus of displaced people towards Goma, where the humanitarian situation is already alarming. Clashes have now reached the territory of Nyiragongo, near Goma, particularly in Kibumba, some 20 km from the city. Heavy artillery shelling can be heard in the northern districts of Goma, while the camps for internally displaced people in Bulengo, Kimashini and Lushagara, west of the city, have been evacuated, forcing their occupants to seek refuge in the city centre. The chaos is exacerbated by the spread of contradictory news, such as the alleged assassination of the military governor of North Kivu, Péter Cirimwami. While media close to the rebels claim his death, other sources close to the government deny it, although there has been no official confirmation. The Congo River Alliance, the political arm of the M23, has issued a statement in English and French urging SAMIDRC troops and MONUSCO blue helmets not to intervene alongside Congolese forces. In addition, the rebels have announced their intention to advance on Goma with the declared aim of “bringing peace and stability to the region.” Given the seriousness of the situation, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi returned to Kinshasa from Davos on January 23 to meet urgently with the Ministers of the Interior and Defense. He also chaired an extraordinary meeting of the High Council of Defense on January 24 to address the crisis. In parallel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on a visit to Kigali, Rwanda, expressed his willingness to mediate between Rwanda and the DRC to end the conflict. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 24/1/2025)

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