Hundreds of Congolese soldiers, government-aligned militia members, and police officers have reportedly surrendered to the M23 rebels in Goma, eastern DR Congo. On Thursday morning, they were seen being transported in trucks under rebel guard, heading to an undisclosed location.
M23’s Plan: Recruitment or Civilian Release?
M23 political leader Corneille Nangaa stated that the captured troops would be taken to training camps and integrated into the rebel movement. “They will be trained on the importance of the army and become full members of the revolution,” he said. However, he added that those unwilling to fight would be allowed to return to civilian life.
Some captured soldiers confirmed their surrender, saying they had no choice but to join the insurgents.
Goma Under M23 Control, Rebels Eye Kinshasa
Since taking Goma on Sunday, the Rwanda-backed militia has solidified its grip on the city. On Thursday, M23 announced its intention to push its offensive further west toward Kinshasa, DR Congo’s capital.
Their statement came just hours after President Félix Tshisekedi called for a massive military mobilization to resist the rebels. Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that essential services in Goma have nearly collapsed, affecting the more than six million people displaced by ongoing conflicts in eastern DR Congo.
Rwanda’s Alleged Role in the Conflict
UN experts estimate that M23 has the backing of approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops—far more than during the group’s initial takeover of Goma in 2012. The rebellion is part of a larger struggle for control over DR Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region, home to an estimated $24 trillion in natural resources vital to the global electronics industry.
As tensions rise, all eyes are on how DR Congo’s government and international actors will respond to this latest escalation.
