High Tensions Persist in DRC Amid Rebellion Assaults in Major City
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Synopsis
Tensions are escalating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in North and South Kivu, as the March 23 Movement (M23) rebellion gains ground, prompting a national address from President Felix Tshisekedi amid rising humanitarian concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Tensions are escalating in the DRC.
- M23 rebellion is advancing in North and South Kivu.
- President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to address the nation.
- Goma is facing increasing violence and humanitarian issues.
- UN Security Council is convening to discuss the situation.
Kinshasa, Jan 28 (NationPress) Tensions continue to escalate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the March 23 Movement (M23) rebellion makes significant progress in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
The President of the DRC, Felix Tshisekedi, is anticipated to deliver a national address in light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the rebellion's notable gains in the eastern part of the nation, as stated by a DRC official late Monday. The timing of the president's address has yet to be confirmed, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Vital Kamerhe, the president of the National Assembly, announced this after a high-level meeting led by Tshisekedi regarding the humanitarian and security conditions in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, which is currently under threat from rebel attacks.
Since Sunday evening, gunfire has been reported throughout Goma, a city that accommodates over 700,000 internally displaced individuals on its outskirts. Combat intensified on Monday morning across various districts, particularly near the border with Rwanda, according to local sources relayed by Xinhua.
Bruno Lemarquis, the deputy UN envoy and top humanitarian official in the DRC, stated during a news conference on Monday that the “active conflict zones have expanded to all neighborhoods of the city.” He described the situation in Goma as “rapidly changing.”
Additional local reports indicated that the rebels gained an advantage by capturing Mount Goma, a crucial hill located 1,500 meters above sea level in the center of the city. Several M23 units have infiltrated neighborhoods, with residents observing their movements along both major and minor thoroughfares.
UN sources confirmed that the border between Rwanda and the DRC near Goma was closed on Monday morning. In recent days, many residents of Goma sought refuge in Gisenyi, a Rwandan town adjacent to the DRC, amidst rising panic due to gunfire reports.
In a recent statement released early Monday, M23 declared that the “liberation of the city has been finalized” and that “the situation is under control” following a 48-hour ultimatum issued to Congolese troops.
UN peacekeeping mission sources indicated that the rebel faction has seized several key facilities, including the airport, the port, and a DRC military base. A recent report from a UN expert group revealed that the rebels have also overtaken multiple towns and established a parallel administration.
A second emergency session of the UN Security Council is scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the security situation in eastern DRC.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the escalating violence in eastern DRC and reiterated his strong condemnation of the M23 armed group's ongoing assaults and advances toward Goma.
Guterres called on the M23 to halt all hostile actions immediately and withdraw from occupied territories. Since the beginning of 2025, over 400,000 individuals have been displaced in eastern DRC, according to the UN.
