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Goma, the most significant city in eastern Congo, descended into chaos on Monday, January 27, 2025 as thousands of residents fled intense fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels. The city, home to nearly 2 million people, became the focal point of escalating violence as the rebels claimed to have taken control of parts of the regional hub.
Fear gripped the population as gunfire rang out across neighborhoods. While some cheered the rebels’ arrival, others hurried to pack their belongings and escape. Families marched along clogged roads in the sweltering heat, carrying children, clothes, and meager possessions as they sought refuge in safer parts of North Kivu or across the border into Rwanda.
“It’s dangerous everywhere. We don’t know who is shooting—our soldiers or the rebels,” Patrice Naanga, a Goma resident, told the press.
Goma, located in mineral-rich North Kivu province, has long been a major target in the region’s violent power struggles. Armed groups, including M23, have repeatedly clashed over the area’s valuable resources, which are critical to global technology supply chains.
The M23 rebels, whose name refers to a failed March 23, 2009 peace deal, briefly seized Goma in 2012 before withdrawing under international pressure. They re-emerged in 2021, accusing the Congolese government of failing to protect their ethnic Tutsi community. Congo has accused neighboring Rwanda of backing the rebels, a claim Rwanda denies, countering that Congo harbors militias hostile to its security.
This latest offensive began with M23 capturing border towns before advancing into Goma. The Congolese government confirmed the rebels’ presence in the city but insisted they had not taken full control. “We will not surrender an inch of our territory,” vowed government spokesman Patrick Muyaya.
The unrest has worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in the region. Goma’s airport, crucial for delivering aid, has been shut down, cutting off lifelines for thousands in need. Hospitals were said to be overwhelmed with injured civilians, and internally displaced persons’ camps have been hit by shelling, forcing families to flee once more.
Monday morning brought additional chaos as a fire broke out at Munzenze prison, enabling thousands of inmates to escape. Witnesses reported men, women, and minors pouring out of the facility, further straining the city’s fragile security.
Analysts warn the situation could destabilize the region further. North Kivu alone hosts over a third of the 6 million people displaced across Congo. Many of Goma’s fleeing residents have crossed into Rwanda, joining others seeking shelter from the violence.
“We left everything behind,” said Safi Shangwe, a mother fleeing with her children. “We walked for hours, and still, we don’t know where to go.”
The U.N. and major powers, including the United States and France, have condemned the rebel advance, urging an immediate withdrawal. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, MONUSCO, has focused on protecting civilians and its personnel in the region.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the U.N. peacekeeping chief, described the situation as “volatile and dangerous”. Meanwhile, Rwanda has accused Congo of refusing to engage in dialogue with M23, escalating tensions between the two countries.
Foreign Embassies Attacked in Kinshasa After Goma’s Fall
The takeover of Goma by M23 rebels triggered a wave of unrest in Kinshasa, over 1,600 kilometers away. Angered by the perceived role of Rwanda and its allies in the ongoing conflict, crowds in the capital took to the streets, burning tires and chanting anti-Rwanda slogans. The protests quickly escalated into attacks on foreign embassies, prompting police to fire tear gas to disperse the mobs.
“What Rwanda is doing is with the complicity of France, the U.S., and Belgium. The Congolese people are fed up. How many times do we have to die?” demanded Joseph Ngoy, one of the demonstrators.
The Rwandan, French, U.S., Ugandan, Kenyan, Dutch, and Belgian embassies became targets of the protests. Verified videos shared on social media showed protesters looting the Kenyan embassy, with similar incidents reported at other diplomatic premises and even a supermarket in the city.
The Kenyan government condemned the attacks, describing them as a severe breach of international law. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei issued a strong statement urging the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) authorities to restore order and ensure the safety of diplomatic missions.
“This development is a serious violation of international law, and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible,” Sing’Oei said. He further called for swift and decisive action by the DRC government to protect foreign diplomats and their premises.
Kenya reiterated its commitment to supporting the DRC in achieving peace and stability through diplomatic means. “Kenya stands with the DRC during this challenging time and will work alongside regional partners to pursue peace,” Sing’Oei added.
The Kenyan government also advised its citizens and businesspeople in the DRC to exercise caution amid the heightened tensions.
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