GOMA, Congo — On Thursday, a wave of panic struck Goma, the main city in eastern Congo, as M23 rebels advanced towards the region, capturing nearby towns amidst fierce clashes with the Congolese military. Explosions echoed from the outskirts of the city, and the local hospital received hundreds of civilians injured in the ongoing combat.
The M23 rebel group has made substantial gains in recent weeks, getting closer to Goma, a city with a population of approximately 2 million, recognized for its significance in humanitarian and security operations. On Thursday, the rebels took control of Sake, a town located about 27 kilometers (16 miles) from Goma, marking one of the last major routes into the provincial capital that remained under government authority, according to reports from the United Nations.
M23 is just one of nearly 100 armed factions competing for dominance in the mineral-rich eastern regions of Congo, bordering Rwanda, in a conflict that has persisted for decades, resulting in one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Over 7 million individuals have been displaced due to the ongoing violence, with M23 recently seizing key locations such as Minova, Katale, and Masisi, all situated west of Goma.
“The people of Goma have endured immense suffering, like many others in Congo,” stated Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for M23, via social media platform X. “M23 is proceeding to liberate them, and they should ready themselves to embrace this liberation.” It’s noteworthy that in 2012, M23 exerted control over Goma for over a week.
As the news of escalating violence broke, schools in Goma dismissed students earlier that Thursday. “We have been informed that the enemy intends to enter the city, which is why we are asked to return home,” 19-year-old high school student Hassan Kambale explained. “We are perpetually on edge, anticipating more bombings.”
Both the Congolese government, along with officials from the United States and U.N. experts, allege that Rwanda is providing support to M23, a group primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis who defected from the Congolese army over a decade ago. Although the Rwandan government denies these assertions, it acknowledged in the past year that it has deployed troops and missile systems in eastern Congo for security purposes, citing a buildup of Congolese forces near its borders. Some U.N. experts estimate that there are approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops present in Congo.
In response to the situation, Congo’s communication minister, Patrick Muyaya, remarked on Wednesday that going to war with Rwanda is “an option to consider.” Later that day, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the recent M23 offensive, particularly calling attention to the “seizure of Sake.” He pointed out the devastating impact on civilians and warned of the risk of a broader regional conflict. Guterres urged all parties involved to respect human rights and adhere to international humanitarian law.
On the same day, Congolese officials claimed to have repelled an attack from what they referred to as the “Rwandan army” in Sake, though verification of Rwanda’s involvement in the offensive could not be established. “The population is in a state of panic. The M23 now controls large sections of the town,” commented Léopold Mwisha, president of civil society in the Sake area.
Guterres expressed his deep concern regarding reports of Rwandan troop presence on Congolese territory, as well as the ongoing support for M23. In light of the escalating conflict near Sake, the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Kinshasa, issued a warning about the increasing severity of hostilities, advising American citizens in North Kivu province — including Goma — to remain vigilant for potential evacuation. Similarly, the United Kingdom issued a travel advisory stating that M23 now dominated Sake and urged British citizens to exit Goma while travel routes are still accessible.
As tensions mounted, many residents of Sake joined over 178,000 others who have fled the M23’s advance in just the last fortnight. The CBCA Ndosho Hospital in Goma was overwhelmed with scores of newly injured individuals on Thursday. Meanwhile, some residents sought refuge on boats, escaping the violence by crossing Lake Kivu in crowded wooden vessels, their belongings bundled tightly around their heads.
Neema Matondo shared her harrowing experience of fleeing Sake amidst the explosions. She described witnessing the horrific scenes around her, as people were killed or mutilated. “We managed to escape, but unfortunately, others did not make it,” she recounted. Mariam Nasibu, who fled Sake with her three children, was in tears after one of her kids lost a leg due to the relentless shelling. “As I was escaping, another bomb landed in front of me, hitting my child,” she lamented through her tears.
