Intense Fighting Escalates as M23 Rebels Push in Eastern DRC
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Synopsis
Intense clashes have erupted in Sake, eastern DRC, as government forces confront the M23 rebels. The fighting has raised alarms over the humanitarian crisis and potential regional conflict, displacing millions.
Key Takeaways
- Ongoing clashes between DRC military and M23 rebels.
- Sake is seen as critical to defense of Goma.
- Warnings issued by foreign embassies.
- UN Secretary-General calls for ceasefire.
- Humanitarian crisis worsens with millions displaced.
Goma, Jan 25 (NationPress) Intense fighting has erupted since Friday morning between government forces and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in the vicinity of Sake, located in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Powerful explosions from the conflict between the DRC military and the M23 have been reported around Sake, a critical town seen as the last line of defense for Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, as per Xinhua news agency.
A pervasive sense of fear has overtaken displaced citizens in Goma and nearby areas amid the relentless shelling by the M23. Numerous foreign embassies have issued warnings, urging their nationals to evacuate North Kivu while airports and borders remain operational.
Guillaume Njike Kaiko, the spokesperson for the DRC military in North Kivu, stated on Friday that efforts to reclaim Sake, currently under M23 control, are ongoing.
"We have successfully halted the enemy's advance towards Goma, and we urge the public to stay calm as our armed forces are fully committed on the front lines against the adversary. We assure you that the military will restore order in the region," he told Xinhua via phone.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern regarding the resurgence of violence by the M23. In a statement from his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, on Thursday, Guterres condemned the M23's renewed offensive since the start of this year and its expansion into North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, particularly the recent capture of Sake, which has escalated the threat to Goma.
The ongoing hostilities have resulted in significant civilian casualties and heightened the risk of a broader regional conflict. Guterres urged the M23 to immediately halt its offensive, withdraw from all seized territories, and adhere to the ceasefire agreement established last August.
This persistent conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region, displacing over seven million individuals. Approximately 237,000 people have been compelled to abandon their homes since the start of 2025, according to the United Nations.
