17 Killed in Goma as M23 Rebels and Rwandan Forces Enter City

Artillery fire and gunfire reverberated through the city’s streets as the Congolese military and M23 fighters clashed. Kigali reported five civilian deaths from artillery fire across the border in Rwanda, while Goma residents described a tense, fearful atmosphere. "We can hear the gunshots outside our homes. We are too scared to leave," said Lucie, a local resident, speaking to AFP by phone.

The M23, which resurfaced in late 2021 after years of dormancy, has been seizing large swaths of North Kivu province, and the fighting has intensified this year. Goma, home to over a million residents, is also hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with surgical teams working nonstop to treat the wounded, said Myriam Favier, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the region.

The violence has displaced more than half a million people in just the past month, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has raised concerns that the ongoing conflict could spiral into a wider regional war.

While the DRC government continues efforts to minimize civilian casualties and prevent further bloodshed, M23 declared Sunday night as a "glorious day marking the liberation of Goma," and issued an ultimatum to Congolese soldiers to surrender their weapons.

Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
M23 fighters and Rwandan soldiers entered Goma after weeks of advancing toward the city, according to the UN and security sources. The conflict has prompted a crisis summit, with Kenyan President William Ruto mediating talks between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame scheduled for Wednesday. The African Union’s Peace and Security Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the escalating tensions.

In a phone call with Tshisekedi, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s commitment to the DRC’s sovereignty and stressed the need for renewed dialogue between the DRC and Rwanda.

The DRC and Rwanda’s relationship has been tense for years, with Kinshasa accusing Kigali of seeking control over the region’s valuable mineral resources, including gold—a claim Rwanda denies.

Prison Break and Border Clashes
As the city descended into chaos, a mass jailbreak from a torched prison resulted in further deaths. Reports from Goma indicate some locals welcomed M23 forces, with celebrations in parts of the city, while Congolese soldiers began surrendering their weapons to UN peacekeepers.

Clashes also occurred between Congolese and Rwandan troops along the border near Goma, while a diplomatic source confirmed that five civilians were killed and 25 others wounded in Gisenyi, Rwanda, from artillery fire. Rwandan military spokesperson Ronald Rwivanga reported that about 120 Congolese fighters were disarmed near the border.

In response to the violence, the DRC and Rwanda have withdrawn their diplomats, and the border near Goma was closed on Monday. While Rwanda’s state media reported preparations to evacuate UN personnel from Goma, the situation remains dire.

Escalating Tensions and Calls for Action
The DRC’s Foreign Minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, called Rwanda’s military presence in Goma a "declaration of war" and urged the UN to impose sanctions on Rwanda. The UN Security Council has demanded the withdrawal of "external forces" but stopped short of specifically naming Rwanda. Rwanda, however, maintains that its military presence is a defensive measure in response to ongoing threats near its border.

Both countries have accused each other of fueling the conflict, with the DRC claiming Rwanda is using the M23 to exploit the region’s mineral wealth. A UN experts’ report corroborated this, alleging that Rwanda was using the M23 to gain control over the DRC's resources.

The conflict’s toll is growing, with over 13 foreign peacekeepers killed in the past weeks. As the situation intensifies, the international community is watching closely, hoping diplomatic efforts can avert a larger regional crisis.