In a dramatic escalation of the long-running conflict in Central Africa, M23 rebels marched into Goma, a strategic city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on Monday. Military personnel from the nation’s armed forces were seen holding their positions near the city’s airport as the insurgents claimed to have taken control. The takeover highlights the fragility of the region, which has endured decades of violence and one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance—a coalition that includes the M23—announced that his forces had secured Goma and that government troops were surrendering. “They have started to surrender, but it takes time,” Nangaa told Reuters. Despite his claims, uncertainty lingers in the city as remnants of the Congolese army maintain a visible presence. “It’s normal that residents still see soldiers,” Nangaa added, downplaying the apparent standoff.
Goma’s fall marks a chilling echo of 2012, when the M23, a Tutsi-led rebel movement allegedly backed by neighboring Rwanda, briefly captured the city before withdrawing under an internationally brokered deal. Kigali has consistently denied any involvement in supporting the rebels, a claim that continues to fuel tensions between the two nations. As the rebels consolidate their hold, fears of further destabilization loom large over the already volatile region.
Amid the chaos, conflicting reports emerged about the status of Goma’s vital airport. Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, chairman of the Air Transport Authority, refuted rebel claims, asserting that the military still controlled the facility. With the specter of renewed violence threatening to engulf the region, the fall of Goma is a grim reminder of the unrelenting cycle of conflict that has plagued eastern Congo for decades.
