Rebels of the M23 movement say they have taken control of the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s east.
Residents shared videos of M23 rebels patrolling Goma’s main streets following a lightning advance against the Congolese army on Sunday that saw tens of thousands of people fleeing neighbouring towns.
After hours of gunfire and explosions in the streets of Goma – home to more than a million people – are now quiet, according to local media reports.
It comes hours after DR Congo’s foreign minister accused Rwanda of declaring war by sending its troops over the border to support the M23 rebels. Rwanda says Kinshasa supports militias who want regime change in Kigali.
Kenya has called for a ceasefire and announced that the presidents of both the DR Congo and Rwanda will attend an emergency regional summit in the next two days.
Ruto’s appeal for ceasefire
Kenyan President William Ruto, the current chair of the East African Community, said it was incumbent on regional leaders to help facilitate a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The M23 group has taken control of vast parts of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since 2021. In the past few weeks, the group has been advancing swiftly on Goma amid intense fighting.
Since the start of 2025, more than 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu, provinces near the border with Rwanda, according to the UN’s refugee agency.
Rebels advance
One displaced woman, Alice Feza, said she is at a loss of what to do next, as she has fled from Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Kibumba and now, Goma.
“People are fleeing everywhere, and we don’t know where to go anymore, because we started fleeing a long time ago,” Feza said, adding: “The war catches us here among the host families, now we have nowhere to go.”
Key roads surrounding Goma are blocked and the city’s airport can no longer be used for evacuation and humanitarian efforts, the UN has said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the DR Congo’s territory and on the M23 rebel group to stop its advance.
Guterres, in a statement through his spokesman, called on Rwanda to “cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory”. He also called on the M23 to “immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas”.
This comes after 13 soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces were killed in clashes with the rebels.
