Fighting between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) army and the M23 militia intensified near Goma on Friday, prompting Western nations to urge their citizens to leave the city. The UK, US, and France issued warnings citing fears of escalating violence in the volatile North Kivu region, which has already displaced over 400,000 people this year. Goma, the provincial capital, sits at the epicentre of the conflict and houses a population of one million.
The M23 militia, reportedly backed by Rwandan forces, has seized significant territory in recent weeks following the collapse of peace talks. Clashes erupted about 20 kilometres west of Goma, with witnesses reporting explosions and military helicopters targeting M23 positions near the town of Sake. Frequent disruptions to electricity, mobile, and internet services have heightened the chaos for civilians fleeing the conflict, many of whom have sought refuge in Goma.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the United Nations mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) confirmed its peacekeepers were actively engaged in combat against M23 fighters. Over the past two days, MONUSCO deployed heavy artillery against the militia’s positions, with armoured vehicles and personnel carriers reinforcing the Congolese military west of Goma. The Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC has also joined efforts to stem the militia’s advance.
UN officials and humanitarian agencies have expressed grave concern over the growing humanitarian crisis. Families from at least nine displacement sites near Goma have fled into the city, with many forced to live in precarious conditions. The International Committee of the Red Cross has reported treating more than 70 wounded individuals at Goma’s hospitals, underscoring the dire medical needs.
The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting on Monday to address the crisis, while Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm at the resumption of hostilities. Diplomatic efforts to mediate between the DRC and Rwanda, including a peace process led by Angola, have so far failed, with multiple ceasefires declared and subsequently broken. On Thursday, Turkey offered to mediate between the two nations hoping to bring a resolution.
The violence marks a grim return to the cycle of conflict that has plagued eastern DRC for decades. The M23 militia briefly occupied Goma in 2012 before being driven out by the Congolese army, backed by MONUSCO and international diplomatic pressure. As the fighting continues, concerns grow that the conflict could spill into a broader regional war, further destabilising the already fragile region.
