Urgent Call for Ceasefire in Congo as Rebels Claim Strategic City

Goma, Jan 27 (NationPress) The March 23 Movement (M23), a rebel faction opposing the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) military, announced on Monday that it has seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and the largest city in eastern DRC.

In an early Monday statement, the M23 declared that the "liberation of the city has been finalized" and that "the situation is secure" after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to Congolese forces. On Saturday, the M23 demanded the surrender of the DRC armed forces and their allies. Previously, the M23 controlled Goma for 10 days back in 2012 before withdrawing under international pressure.

As of Sunday evening, the rebels instructed government forces to disarm. Local reports indicate that several Congolese soldiers surrendered their arms to UN peacekeepers present in Goma.

The DRC government has yet to respond to the developments in Goma but held a high-level security meeting on Sunday night, led by President Felix Tshisekedi.

Local media reports indicate at least 10 fatalities and approximately 4,400 inmates escaped from Munzenze Prison in Goma amidst the ongoing conflict. Radio Okapi, a UN-supported station, reported that prisoners ignited parts of the facility during clashes with M23 rebels.

Since Sunday evening, gunfire has echoed throughout Goma, with combat intensifying Monday morning in various city areas, including those near the Rwandan border.

UN sources confirmed that the border with Rwanda was sealed off Monday morning, causing panic among Goma residents fleeing to Gisenyi, a city across the border in Rwanda.

During a press briefing at UN headquarters in New York on Sunday, DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner characterized the M23’s actions as "a direct assault on Goma."

The humanitarian emergency in eastern DRC is worsening. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported on Friday that over 400,000 individuals have been displaced since January 2025. Their statement highlighted that ongoing clashes exacerbate the already perilous situation for civilians in South Kivu and North Kivu provinces, which already host 4.6 million internally displaced persons, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

On Saturday, the DRC government announced the recall of its diplomats from Rwanda amid the M23's advances, heightening tensions between the two countries.

In a letter to the Rwandan Embassy in Kinshasa, the DRC Foreign Ministry demanded that Rwandan diplomats halt all consular activities within 48 hours.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim that Kigali denies. Rwanda has countered by accusing the DRC army of backing remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group implicated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

In a Sunday statement, the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized various parties for their "misguided and manipulative statements," asserting that these fail to tackle the underlying issues of the crisis. Rwanda also denied any involvement in the M23 resurgence, describing the group as a Congolese armed faction advocating for the rights of ethnic Tutsis in DRC.

The statement attributed the enduring conflict to the DRC's unwillingness to engage in dialogue with the M23 and the collapse of the Luanda peace process initiated in 2022. Rwanda urged renewed efforts in both the Luanda and Nairobi peace initiatives to stabilize the region.

Kenyan President William Ruto, who rotates as chairman of the East African Community (EAC), has called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern DRC, warning of the deteriorating humanitarian and security climate.

"The escalating conflict and worsening situation in eastern DRC are of serious concern to the people and governments of East Africa," Ruto stated from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Sunday. "I urge for an immediate and unconditional halt to hostilities."

Ruto also announced an emergency summit within 48 hours to discuss the escalating crisis in DRC and determine a path forward. He mentioned that this crisis summit aligns with the November 2024 EAC Summit decision, which called for constructive engagement to address the conflict. He expressed the EAC's willingness to work alongside the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and international partners to encourage the warring factions to prioritize dialogue.

As tensions remain elevated, several foreign embassies have issued warnings advising their citizens to leave North Kivu. The United Nations announced on Saturday that it has temporarily relocated non-essential personnel from Goma, where fear and uncertainty have overtaken the population.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced profound concern over the rising violence in eastern DRC, calling for an immediate ceasefire.