At least 100 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured in fierce fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. Hospitals in the city are overwhelmed, with medical staff warning of a growing humanitarian crisis.
“We are running out of space and supplies,” said a doctor at Goma General Hospital. “Many wounded are lying on the floor.”
The violence, which began three days ago, has forced thousands to flee. The UN estimates that over 500,000 people have been displaced since January.
M23 Seizes Goma Airport, Army Soldiers Surrender
M23, a rebel group allegedly backed by Rwanda, has seized Goma’s airport, a security source confirmed. Witnesses say only M23 fighters and Rwandan forces were visible on the streets Tuesday night.
More than 1,200 Congolese soldiers have reportedly surrendered and are now confined at a UN military base. The UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, has expressed concern that the situation could spiral further.
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As tensions escalate, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi is set to meet Rwandan President Paul Kagame at an emergency East African Community summit in Kenya. The U.S. has urged Rwanda to “immediately halt military support” for M23.
In a call with Kagame, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded a ceasefire. “There must be respect for sovereign territorial integrity,” he said. Kagame later described their conversation as “productive.”
Meanwhile, China’s UN ambassador, Fu Cong, has called on Rwanda to withdraw support for M23.
In Kinshasa, protests erupted outside several foreign embassies, including those of France, the U.S., and Rwanda. Demonstrators accused international powers of failing to act. Some embassies were vandalized, prompting the U.S. to issue a security alert advising citizens to leave the country.
At the Rwandan border, thousands of Congolese civilians are fleeing. “Bombs were falling everywhere,” said 24-year-old refugee Destin Jamaica Kela. “We saw bodies in the streets.” Rwanda has received at least 1,200 refugees, officials say.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Aid agencies warn that the fighting has left Goma on the brink of disaster. The International Committee of the Red Cross says hospitals are overwhelmed, while the UN warns of disease outbreaks.
“There’s a risk of Ebola and other deadly pathogens spreading due to disrupted healthcare services,” a UN official cautioned.
Looting of aid supplies has worsened food shortages, and many displaced families are sheltering in makeshift camps with little access to clean water.
A History of Conflict
M23 briefly captured Goma in 2012 before being pushed back by the Congolese army and UN forces. The group resurfaced in late 2021, seizing large areas of North Kivu province.
A UN report in July claimed that Rwanda had “de facto control” over M23, with up to 4,000 Rwandan troops involved. Rwanda denies the accusations, arguing it is targeting Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
Calls for Ceasefire as Violence Continues
The African Union has called for an immediate ceasefire, urging M23 fighters to lay down their arms. However, previous peace talks have failed, and an August ceasefire collapsed within weeks.
With the conflict escalating, analysts fear that eastern DR Congo could descend into deeper chaos unless urgent diplomatic action is taken.
