The leader of a rebel alliance that recently captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has declared that his forces will continue their offensive towards the capital, Kinshasa. Corneille Nangaa, who heads the coalition that includes the M23 rebel group, stated that their goal is to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi’s government.
Reports suggest that the rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, are now advancing towards Bukavu, the second-largest city in the mineral-rich eastern region. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the fighting has intensified, displacing approximately 500,000 people and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Following the fall of Goma, President Tshisekedi addressed the nation, vowing a “vigorous and coordinated response” to reclaim lost territory. “The Democratic Republic of Congo will not let itself be humiliated or crushed. We will fight and we will triumph,” he declared.
Meanwhile, Nangaa has positioned the rebels as Goma’s new administrators, promising to restore essential services in a city that has been left without electricity, water, and food supplies. While analysts believe a march to Kinshasa—over 2,600 km (1,600 miles) away—is unlikely, historical precedent exists. In 1997, Rwanda-backed forces successfully ousted long-time ruler Mobutu Sese Seko.
The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels and even deploying troops in Goma, allegations that Rwanda denies. The situation has drawn widespread international criticism, with the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and China calling for Rwandan forces to leave the DRC. Countries like the UK and Germany have also threatened to cut financial aid to Rwanda in response to the M23 offensive.
M23, the dominant group within the rebel alliance, claims to be fighting to protect ethnic Tutsis in the DRC. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, himself a Tutsi, has long accused the DRC government of harboring Hutu militias responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide. This conflict has drawn in multiple foreign actors, including peacekeepers from the UN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), though they have been unable to stop the rebel advance.
Tensions between Rwanda and South Africa have also escalated. South African troops, part of the regional peacekeeping force, have suffered the highest casualties in the conflict. President Cyril Ramaphosa accused M23 and Rwandan forces of responsibility for these deaths, prompting a sharp response from Kagame. He warned that if South Africa sought confrontation, Rwanda was prepared to respond.
As the crisis deepens, southern African leaders are set to meet to discuss the escalating violence. While Tshisekedi has praised regional and UN forces for fighting alongside Congolese troops, Kagame has dismissed their presence, arguing that they have no role in the conflict.
With diplomatic tensions rising and no resolution in sight, the conflict threatens to destabilize the entire region, with devastating consequences for millions caught in the crossfire.
