The M23 rebel group has claimed the capture of Goma city, located in North Kivu province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The fall of Goma, which occurred early Monday morning, followed several days of fierce fighting between the M23 and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).
The battle led to significant casualties, including Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, the military governor of North Kivu, as well as nine South African peacekeepers who were deployed in the region. On Sunday, many diplomats based in Goma began fleeing the city toward neighboring Rwanda.
At precisely 05:00 AM on Monday, Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesperson for M23, issued a statement confirming the rebels’ control of the city, describing it as a “liberation.” He further announced the suspension of all activities on Lake Kivu, effective immediately, and called for calm, assuring that the situation was under control.
“We urge all residents of Goma to remain calm. The liberation of the city has been successfully carried out, and the situation is under control,” Kanyuka said.
Earlier, Kanyuka had given an ultimatum to FARDC soldiers and their allies, instructing them to gather at Unity Stadium by 03:00 AM and surrender their weapons to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). This move was part of M23’s strategy to occupy Goma without further resistance. The rebels also claimed responsibility for halting all flights to Goma International Airport on Sunday morning.
By 07:00 AM, several MONUSCO staff members were seen attempting to reach the border at Grande Barrière to evacuate the city. With all other routes blocked by M23 forces, Rwanda quickly deployed buses in Gisenyi to transport the evacuated MONUSCO personnel back to safety.
Rwanda also assisted in evacuating South African peacekeepers from the region, as reports confirmed that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) contingent had fled Goma on Sunday night. The DRC government has yet to comment on M23’s claim of capturing Goma.
This is not the first time M23 has seized Goma. The group captured the city during a 2012 insurgency but withdrew after a brief seven-day occupation to allow for peace talks with the government. However, following the breakdown of negotiations, the DRC government, alongside mercenaries and UN peacekeepers, launched a counteroffensive, forcing M23 to flee to Uganda and Rwanda.
Since resuming their insurgency in 2022, M23 forces, led by Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, have made significant territorial gains. Their most recent victories include the capture of FARDC positions in Tchanzu and Runoni, located in the Rutshuru territory, as well as the strategic Bunagana border.
In August 2024, the group formed an alliance with Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, the former chairman of DR Congo’s electoral commission, intensifying their campaign against the government.
The DR Congo government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 have denied. According to M23, their fight is not against neighboring countries but rather against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DRC’s leadership.
As tensions mount, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, which has the potential to further destabilize the region.
The situation in Goma marks a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The M23’s capture of the city highlights the growing power of the rebels, as well as the continued instability that threatens the region. With both local and international players involved, the future of Goma and surrounding territories remains uncertain.
