DR Congo conflict: M23 rebels advance into Goma after claiming captured city – Live | DR Congo
Rebels say they have taken control of key eastern city of Goma
Hello and welcome to the Democratic Republic of Congo Live Blog where we will bring you the latest developments.
The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, as the United Nations reports “mass panic” and the government calls the rebellion a “declaration of war”, the Associated Press reports.
The city's capture came after a 48-hour deadline for the group to surrender weapons to Congolese troops. The M23 rebel movement announced the coup in a statement.
In a statement, the rebels urged residents of Goma to remain calm. Dr. Congo was not immediately available for comment.
Hours earlier, the U.N.'s special representative for Congo told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that with airports closed, roads blocked and humanitarian and security hubs across the vast area “we are trapped.”
The M23 rebel offensive in the heart of the mineral-rich region threatens to significantly worsen one of Africa's longest wars and cause more suffering to what is already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with millions displaced.
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UN Security Council calls on M23 to stop offensive
The United Nations Security Council on Sunday demanded an immediate withdrawal of “external forces” from the area by the M23 rebels to stop an ongoing offensive heading towards Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city.
The council's demands came after Rwanda-backed M23 said they followed advances in lightning strikes that forced thousands to flee and heightened fears of a regional war. Reuters could not independently determine whether the city was fully under rebel control.
The 15-member U.N. Security Council met early Sunday to discuss the crisis before quickly agreeing to the lengthy statement.
The Council urged Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to return to negotiations to achieve peace and resolve issues related to the presence of the Rwanda Defense Forces in eastern Congo and Congolese support for the Democratic Forces Liberating Rwanda (FDLR).
M23 has vowed to defend Tutsi interests, especially against ethnic militias such as the FDLR, which was founded by the Hutus, who fled Rwanda after taking part in the 1994 genocide of more than 800,000 tutsis and moderate Hutus. .
At a council meeting on Sunday, the United States, France and Britain condemned what they said was Rwanda's support for the M23 Rebel Advance. Kigali has long denied supporting the M23.
In a statement, the Security Council “condemned the continued blatant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the unauthorized presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the East.”
It did not explicitly name the external forces, but instead asked them to “exit immediately.”
The Uruguayan army, which is based in Goma, said in a statement late Sunday on X that some Congolese soldiers had laid down their weapons.
“More than a hundred FARDC soldiers are sheltered in facilities at the Siempre base in attendance, awaiting (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) procedures,” the statement said.
In photos shared with the statement, armed men were seen registered with peacekeepers in a mixture of military and civilian clothing.
The Associated Press reports that U.N. peacekeepers have begun processing military members who have begun surrendering on the outskirts of the city.
Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya issued a statement in a video posted on X, calling for the protection of civilians and saying there were “changing war conditions” in the country.
Late on Sunday, the U.N.'s special representative for Congo told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that with airports closed and roads blocked, “we are trapped” in humanitarian and security hubs across the vast area.
Congo established ties with Rwanda late on Saturday, with Rwanda denying support for M23 despite evidence gathered by U.N. experts and others. A surge in violence has killed at least 13 peacekeepers in the past week.
Rebels say they have taken control of key eastern city of Goma
Hello and welcome to the Democratic Republic of Congo Live Blog where we will bring you the latest developments.
The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, as the United Nations reports “mass panic” and the government calls the rebellion a “declaration of war”, the Associated Press reports.
The city's capture came after a 48-hour deadline for the group to surrender weapons to Congolese troops. The M23 rebel movement announced the coup in a statement.
In a statement, the rebels urged residents of Goma to remain calm. Dr. Congo was not immediately available for comment.
Hours earlier, the U.N.'s special representative for Congo told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that with airports closed, roads blocked and humanitarian and security hubs across the vast area “we are trapped.”
The M23 rebel offensive in the heart of the mineral-rich region threatens to significantly worsen one of Africa's longest wars and cause more suffering to what is already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with millions displaced.