The Grim Comeback

The M23 rebel group captured Goma, a strategic city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following intense fighting Monday, marking a major setback for the Congolese army, and raising fears among regional and international leaders over the escalating humanitarian and security crisis in the region, Al Jazeera reported.

Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and a vital hub for humanitarian aid and regional security, fell to the rebels after weeks of advances through surrounding towns, including Sake and Minova. The United Nations confirmed the deaths of 13 peacekeepers over the weekend, including South African and Malawian soldiers, after M23 fighters overwhelmed Congolese army positions.

Hundreds of thousands of residents fled Goma, a regional capital, with some seeking refuge in Rwanda or nearby towns. The UN estimated that more than 237,000 people were already displaced in January alone, adding to the millions uprooted since the conflict reignited in 2022.

Humanitarian organizations have evacuated staff from Goma as aid efforts stall due to blocked roads and an M23-declared closure of airspace, the Voice of America noted.

Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner described the incursion by M23 as a “declaration of war” and accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the rebels, calling for international sanctions against the country. Rwanda’s UN ambassador denied it.

M23, largely composed of Tutsi fighters, resurfaced in 2022 after a decade of being mostly quiet. The group claims to protect the DRC’s Tutsi population but is accused of wanting to control Congo’s rich mineral resources and receiving support from Rwanda to do it.

The United States condemned the attack, warning Rwanda to stop its support for M23. Kenyan President William Ruto announced an emergency East African Community (EAC) summit to mediate, the Guardian added.