
Date Published: 28/01/2025
Updated: 29/01/2025
Location: Goma, North Kivu Province, Eastern DRC; Kinshasa.
What happened?
On Monday 27/01/2025, M23 armed group rebels said they had captured the eastern city of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This signals a major escalation of the decades-long conflict which reignited in 2022. Hundreds of thousands of people fled Goma on Monday. Goma is a humanitarian and security hub of the region where several people displaced by fighting elsewhere sought refuge.
The M23 is one of several armed groups operating in the east of the DRC in the search for control over mineral mines. The DRC and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group and have said Rwandan troops were present in Goma. The Foreign Minister of the DRC said on Sunday 26/01 that the Rwandan troops crossing the border was a ‘declaration of war’ from Rwanda. The Minister also said the DRC was severing all diplomatic ties with Kigali.
The M23 intensified the offensive late last year, capturing nearby towns. At the beginning of 2025, they took control of Sake and Minova towns. On Sunday, 26/01/2025, the UN Security Council condemned the advance and confirmed 13 peacekeepers, three Malawian and one Uruguayan soldiers were killed in the attacks.
As of 29/01/2025, the situation is developing. M23 rebels control most of the city. Gunfire can still be heard, electricity is cut off, and hospitals are overwhelmed. Dozens of troops have surrendered but some soldiers and pro-government militias are still holding out. The M23 are gathering DRC troops and allied groups to take their weapons. There are also reports of looting and raping committed by fighters. A medicines warehouse has been looted and one laboratory in which dangerous germs were kept has been hit.
The M23 rebels have declared that FZNA/Goma and its airspace is closed. No flights are departing from the airport at the moment. The roads in and out of the city are blocked. The M23 rebels launched several mortar bombs in the direction of the airport that landed on the nearby SANDF base. Fighting continues near the border with Rwanda. M23 is also reported to be advancing towards the capital of South Kivu, Bukavu. International pressure on Rwanda is increasing.
Meanwhile, about 1.600 kilometers away in the capital Kinshasa, protests are taking place. The demonstrators targeted the embassies of the countries they accuse of collaborating with Rwanda. These include France, the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda itself. Protestors and police also clashed, and authorities fired tear gas to disperse demonstrations.
What to do
The situation on the ground is dangerous. If you are in Goma, seek shelter until you can identify how to safely leave the country, be prepared to leave at a short notice, register/notify your embassy of your location and make sure your contact details are up-to-date. If you are in the capital, seek shelter, stay indoors, and monitor local media for information regarding ongoing protests.
For Dutch citizens in Kinshasa, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at +31 247 247 247