Gunfire erupts in Congo’s Goma as rebels claim control of the city

Gunfire echoed across Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, early Monday, just hours after M23 rebels—reportedly backed by Rwanda—declared they had seized the city despite urgent calls from the United Nations Security Council to halt their offensive.

The M23’s recent advances in Congo’s mineral-rich east have displaced thousands, raising fears of a renewed regional conflict in an area already scarred by decades of unrest.

“There is chaos in the city. Near the airport, there are soldiers, but I haven’t seen M23 fighters yet,” a local resident told Reuters. Reports of looting have also emerged, with some residents describing heavy gunfire near the city center, the airport, and the Rwandan border.

While the source of the gunfire remains unclear, one resident suggested it was likely warning shots rather than active fighting.

Soldiers Surrender Amid Tensions

Ahead of the rebels’ deadline for government troops to surrender by 3 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), Uruguay’s military reported that 100 Congolese soldiers had turned over their weapons to MONUSCO, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo. MONUSCO personnel and their families were seen evacuating to Rwanda early Monday, with buses stationed at the border for their transfer.

Regional and International Reactions

Kenya’s President William Ruto, who chairs the East African Community bloc, has called an emergency summit to address the escalating crisis, according to Korir Sing’Oei, Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs.

The U.N. Security Council convened on Sunday for emergency talks, as the crisis in eastern Congo threatens to worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.

Rebel Allegations and Rwanda’s Involvement

The Tutsi-led M23 rebel group claims it is defending Congo’s ethnic Tutsi population. However, U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of deploying up to 4,000 troops and supplying M23 with advanced weaponry, including missiles and sniper support.

The U.S., France, and Britain condemned Rwanda’s alleged backing of the M23, but Kigali dismissed the accusations, blaming Kinshasa for escalating tensions. Rwanda’s foreign ministry stated, “The fighting near our border remains a severe threat to Rwanda’s security and territorial integrity, necessitating a continued defensive posture.”

Context and Background

Eastern Congo, a region plagued by militia violence and rebel strongholds, remains a powder keg of instability stemming from Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and two regional wars that followed. M23, the latest in a string of rebel groups, poses a significant challenge to peace in a country the size of Western Europe.

As the crisis unfolds, concerns are mounting over the potential for a broader regional conflict and the worsening plight of displaced communities.

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