U.S. Expresses Deep Concern Over M23 Rebels’ Capture of Goma

U.S. Expresses Deep Concern Over M23 Rebels’ Capture of Goma

The United States has expressed deep concern over the fall of Goma, a strategic city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. The rebels, who seized control of the city within just two days, have now consolidated their hold over Goma, home to nearly two million people.

Gunfire continued sporadically in outlying districts of the lakeside city on Wednesday, following the Monday takeover that left bodies scattered in the streets, hospitals overwhelmed, and U.N. peacekeepers confined to their bases.

On Tuesday, the rebels also seized Goma’s international airport, a move that could significantly disrupt the flow of humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the volatile eastern DRC. The region has been plagued by conflict for decades, fueled by ethnic tensions, militia activity, and competition for valuable mineral resources.

International Reactions and Calls for Withdrawal

In response to the escalating crisis, Washington has urged the U.N. Security Council to consider measures to halt the offensive, while the African Union has called for the immediate withdrawal of M23 from occupied areas.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame acknowledged the need for a ceasefire during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio but did not indicate any willingness to withdraw from Goma. According to the U.S. State Department, Rubio conveyed Washington’s deep concern over the situation, emphasizing the importance of respecting Congo’s territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, tensions have continued to rise, with Congo’s national army and the Rwandan military exchanging fire along their shared border on Monday, resulting in at least nine reported deaths.

Resistance and Local Response

In Majengo, a northern district of Goma, reports suggest that Wazalendo militias, a coalition of armed groups allied with the Congolese government since 2022, are still active. “There are sporadic shots in the neighborhood. They are certainly Wazalendo fighters,” one resident said.

An emergency summit of the East African Community (EAC)—which includes both Congo and Rwanda—was scheduled for Wednesday evening to address the crisis. A Rwandan government source confirmed Kagame’s participation, while sources in Kinshasa indicated that Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi would not attend.

Tshisekedi, who has yet to make a public statement on the crisis, is expected to address the nation later on Wednesday.

The M23 Insurgency and Rwanda’s Role

The M23 rebellion is the latest in a series of Tutsi-led, Rwandan-backed insurgencies that have destabilized eastern Congo since the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Following the genocide, Hutu extremists who had orchestrated the mass killings fled into Congo, where they have remained ever since. Rwanda argues that these groups pose a security threat to Congolese Tutsis and Rwanda itself.

However, Kinshasa rejects Rwanda’s claims, accusing Kigali of using proxy militias to exploit the region’s lucrative mineral wealth, including coltan, a key component in smartphone production.

The latest crisis in Goma marks M23’s most significant advance since 2012, when the group last seized the city before withdrawing under intense international pressure. However, analysts and diplomats suggest that global powers may not exert the same level of pressure on Rwanda this time, given its strategic role as a stable ally in an otherwise tumultuous region.

Humanitarian Impact and Reports of Abuses

The humanitarian situation in Goma remains dire. On Tuesday, hundreds of disarmed Congolese government soldiers and militia fighters were seen sitting on a football pitch as M23 fighters reportedly oversaw a disarmament process, according to an unverified video seen by Reuters.

M23’s political leader Bertrand Bisimwa later claimed that the last pockets of resistance in Goma had been neutralized and that the rebels were now working to ensure “total security” in the city.

However, reports from medical and humanitarian sources paint a grim picture. The city’s four main hospitals have already treated at least 760 wounded individuals, and many more casualties remain unaccounted for.

The U.N. humanitarian office has also received reports of rape and other abuses committed by fighters, further fueling concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict.

A hospital manager in Goma described the situation as desperate:

“We had to drain gasoline from ambulances to power the generator because people are on respirators. The injuries are severe. Some people die before they even get here.”

Protests and Diplomatic Fallout

In Kinshasa, nearly 1,600 km (1,000 miles) west of Goma, the situation has sparked violent protests. Demonstrators have attacked U.N. compounds and embassies, including those of Rwanda, France, and the United States, accusing foreign powers of interfering in Congo’s affairs.

As tensions continue to rise, all eyes are now on regional and international leaders to see whether diplomatic efforts can bring a peaceful resolution to one of the most volatile conflicts in Africa today.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Даркнет Сайт Кракен Зеркало Ссылка