Rwanda-backed M23 rebels face resistance in Goma after seizing city

M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, faced resistance from both Congolese army forces and pro-government militias following their entry into Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, marking a significant escalation in a decade-long conflict.

Overnight, several neighborhoods experienced gunfire and explosions, particularly near the airport, which remains under the control of United Nations peacekeepers and government forces. Witnesses reported hearing sustained gunfire from midnight onward, with one local from the Majengo area, near the airport, describing the ongoing violence.

The escalating tensions prompted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the situation with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, following the deaths of nine South African peacekeepers earlier this week. Both leaders emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire.

Goma, home to nearly two million people, serves as a crucial humanitarian hub and a major trade gateway for minerals used in electronics. M23, a Rwandan-backed group that resumed its insurgency in 2022 after a decade of relative calm, has gained significant ground in recent weeks, closing in on Goma after advancing through North Kivu province.

Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the M23 rebels have pressed on with their offensive, while Rwanda, which previously denied its military involvement, has defended its actions, citing threats to its national security.

South Africa, with troops deployed in both the U.N. mission and a Southern African force, has suffered the most significant casualties among peacekeepers, drawing criticism for its failure to ensure adequate equipment for its troops.

After the conversation between Ramaphosa and Kagame, the South African presidency issued a statement calling for peace talks and a ceasefire, but did not address the recent deaths of peacekeepers.

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