President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has cut short his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos to address escalating violence in the country’s eastern region.
The M23 rebels, alleged to have Rwanda’s support, have advanced significantly since the beginning of the year, seizing several key towns, including Masisi, Minova, and Sake in North Kivu province. Over 400,000 people have fled their homes as the rebels push closer to the provincial capital, Goma, a city of over one million.
Local leaders report that more than 200 civilians have been killed in areas now under rebel control, while the United Nations confirmed the deaths of two children after bombs hit a camp for displaced people. Thousands of residents have fled, carrying essential belongings on their backs or overcrowding wooden boats in desperate attempts to escape.
The potential fall of Goma would mark a significant victory for M23. The city, which lies near the Rwandan border, was briefly captured by the group during a 2012 rebellion before a deal prompted their withdrawal. Currently, key access roads to Goma are blocked, raising fears of food shortages.
Local union leader Bahala Shamavu Innocent described the dire situation: “The town is suffocated, with no entrances or exits, and the suffering is immense.” Opposition figures have echoed concerns about security and the population’s safety.
The Congolese army claims it has repelled the M23’s advance on Sake, located just 20 kilometers from Goma, but reports suggest the rebels are maintaining their stronghold in the area.
M23 has been active since 2021, steadily capturing territory in the mineral-rich eastern DRC and displacing hundreds of thousands. Previous ceasefires have failed to hold, and fighting resumed with greater intensity in late 2024.
The DRC and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of backing the rebels, a claim Rwanda has not confirmed or denied. On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the escalating conflict risks triggering a broader regional war. He urged all parties to respect the DRC’s sovereignty and cease support for armed groups.
Hospitals in Goma are overwhelmed with injured civilians, and humanitarian agencies warn of a growing crisis as displaced families continue to pour into the area, fleeing the violence.
