M23 rebels continue their relentless advance towards Goma, a major city in eastern Congo. The fighting has intensified, causing panic and mass displacement as thousands flee their homes. The situation is compounded by accusations of Rwandan support for the M23 rebels, raising concerns about regional instability.
Panic gripped the city of Goma on Thursday as M23 rebels relentlessly advanced closer, engaging in fierce battles with the Congo lese army. Distant bomb explosions echoed throughout the city, and the main hospital overflowed with hundreds of wounded civilians transported from surrounding towns and villages.
The M23 group has been making significant territorial gains in recent weeks, steadily nearing Goma, a city of approximately two million inhabitants and a crucial regional hub for security and humanitarian efforts. This conflict is part of a long-standing struggle in eastern Congo, where over 100 armed groups vie for control in the mineral-rich region bordering Rwanda. The fighting has displaced more than seven million people, creating one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Earlier this month, M23 captured the towns of Minova, Katale, and Masisi, all located west of Goma. Schools in Goma were hastily evacuated on Thursday morning as news of the escalating fighting spread. Students, like 19-year-old Hassan Kambale, expressed anxieties about the imminent threat. Kambale shared, 'We are told that the enemy wants to enter the city. That's why we are told to go home. We are constantly waiting for the bombs.'M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, in a statement on X, claimed that the group was on a mission to liberate the people of Goma. He asserted, 'The people of Goma have suffered greatly, like other Congolese. M23 is on its way to liberate them, and they must prepare to welcome this liberation.' The situation in Sake, a town just 23 kilometers from Goma, remains volatile. Congolese authorities alleged that the Rwandan army launched an attack on Sake, but this claim could not be independently verified. Residents reported conflicting accounts, with some stating that M24 rebels had taken control of the town. Leopold Mwisha, president of the civil society of the Sake area, described the situation as dire, saying, 'The population is in panic. The M23 now control large parts of the town.' The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa issued a warning about the escalating conflict near Sake, advising U.S. citizens in North Kivu province to be prepared for potential evacuations. The United Kingdom also issued a travel advisory urging British nationals to leave Goma while transportation routes remained open. Thousands of Sake residents have joined the growing number of displaced persons, seeking refuge from the violence. The CBCA Ndosho Hospital in Goma was struggling to cope with the influx of wounded, highlighting the human cost of this ongoing conflict
M23 Rebels Goma Congo Eastern Congo Humanitarian Crisis Rwanda Armed Conflict Displacement Mass Exodus
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