The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has withdrawn its diplomats from Rwanda as M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan forces, continue their advance on the eastern city of Goma. The escalation has drawn widespread international condemnation and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Congolese army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge accused Rwanda of aiming to seize Goma, a key city in the mineral-rich region that houses over a million people. The UN Security Council has moved its emergency meeting on the crisis up to Sunday, responding to the worsening situation.
The conflict has claimed the lives of 13 peacekeepers from South Africa, Malawi, and Uruguay in recent clashes. South Africa reported nine fatalities, Malawi confirmed three, and Uruguay announced one death along with four injuries among its forces. Meanwhile, hundreds of civilians have been wounded, and over 400,000 people have been displaced since January.
The UN has begun evacuating non-essential staff from Goma, while nations such as Germany, the US, and the UK have advised their citizens to leave the area. Artillery fire continues to shake Goma, with UN forces actively engaging M23 fighters.
The African Union, European Union, and French President Emmanuel Macron have all urged an immediate halt to the fighting. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas strongly condemned Rwanda’s military support for M23, calling it a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
Angolan President João Lourenço, mediating between the DRC and Rwanda, criticized M23 and its backers for their “irresponsible actions,” warning of regional instability.
Rwanda, however, rebuked the UN for using the term “final solution” in a statement addressing the crisis, describing it as incendiary and historically insensitive.
The decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo continues to defy diplomatic efforts. A planned meeting between DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame was cancelled in December, stalling an Angola-led peace initiative.
As fighting rages, humanitarian needs have surged, with international organisations scrambling to provide aid to those affected.
