Wednesday, February 12, 2025

DR Congo: Thousands flee Goma as rebels reach centre of eastern city

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Isaac Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Kaledzi
Isaac Kaledzi is an experienced and award winning journalist from Ghana. He has worked for several media brands both in Ghana and on the International scene. Isaac Kaledzi is currently serving as an African Correspondent for DW.

Thousands have been reported to be fleeing Goma, the largest city of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday. 

Residents have shared videos of M23 rebels patrolling Goma’s main streets on Sunday with tens of thousands of people fleeing neighbouring towns. 

The renewed fighting between government forces and rebels has escalated in the past weeks as the decade old conflict rages. 

The conflict has worsened the humanitarian crises in the region. There were gunfire exchange near the airport, close to the border with Rwanda. 

The rebel alliance, spearheaded by the M23 militia has said it had captured the whole of the lakeside city. 

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Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes the M23, was quoted by the Reuters on Monday as saying that his forces were in control of Goma and that army soldiers were laying down arms. 

“They have started to surrender, but it takes time,” he said. “It’s normal that they (residents) still see soldiers.” 

These claims are yet to be independently confirmed but residents have spoken of the presence of the rebels. 

In a statement early on Monday morning, the government said its forces were still controlling strategic parts of the city including the airport. 

“Contrary to the manipulative messages circulating on social networks the FARDC [the DR Congo army] hold the Goma airport… and all the strategic points of the capital of the North Kivu Province,” it said. 

According to the United Nations, key roads surrounding Goma have been blocked and the city’s airport can no longer be used for evacuation and humanitarian efforts. 

“There is confusion in the city. Here near the airport, we see soldiers. I have not seen the M23 yet,” one resident is quoted by Reuters as saying. “There are also some cases of looting of stores.” 

Many families are reported to be in shock of the latest turn or events and struggling to flee the conflict. 

“People are fleeing everywhere, and we don’t know where to go any more, because we started fleeing a long time ago,” a woman told the BBC. “The war catches us here among the host families, now we have nowhere to go.” 

The M23, Tutsi-led rebel movements backed by Rwanda, captured Goma in 2012 but withdrew days later after an agreement brokered by neighbouring nations. 

Congo has more than 100 armed groups, mainly in the east of the central African nation of 100 million people. 

 

DR Congo displaced persons camp attack and Rwanda’s denial

Source: Africafeeds.com

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