Chaos in Congo: M23 Rebels Encircle Goma, Claiming Lives of Peacekeepers

Fierce Clashes with M23 Rebels in Eastern Congo Claim Lives of Peacekeepers and Soldiers

GOMA, Congo – Intense fighting with M23 rebels in eastern Congo has resulted in the deaths of at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers, United Nations and army officials confirmed on Saturday.

The rebel group, M23, has gained significant ground in recent weeks, encircling the city of Goma—a key regional hub with a population of approximately 2 million. The escalating violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region, displacing millions of civilians.

The United Nations Security Council has advanced an emergency meeting on the crisis to Sunday morning at 10 a.m. EST, following a request from the Congolese government. Originally slated for Monday, the meeting will address the deteriorating situation.

Army Repels M23 Offensive

On Saturday, Congo’s military reported successfully repelling an M23 offensive near Goma with assistance from U.N. troops and forces from the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).

Kate Hixon, Advocacy Director for Africa at Amnesty International US, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “The Rwandan-backed M23 is clearly exploiting the presidential transition in the U.S. to advance on Goma, putting thousands more civilians at risk.”

The Congolese government, the United Nations, and U.S. officials accuse Rwanda of supporting M23, a rebel group primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis who defected from Congo’s military over a decade ago. While Rwanda denies these allegations, it has admitted to deploying troops and missile systems in eastern Congo, citing border security concerns. U.N. experts estimate up to 4,000 Rwandan forces are active in the region.

Heavy Losses Among Peacekeepers

The conflict has taken a significant toll on peacekeeping forces. A burning U.N.-marked armored vehicle was spotted on a road between Goma and Sake, where recent clashes have been concentrated.

Casualties include:

Two South African peacekeepers, killed on Friday.
One Uruguayan peacekeeper, identified as Rodolfo Álvarez, killed on Saturday. Four other Uruguayan soldiers were injured, one of whom was evacuated to Uganda for treatment.
Three Malawian peacekeepers, killed in eastern Congo.
Seven South African SAMIDRC soldiers, killed during clashes over the past two days.

South Africa’s defense minister, Angie Motshekga, was visiting troops stationed in Congo as part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission when the fatalities occurred.

Uruguay’s military acknowledged the challenging conditions for its peacekeepers, emphasizing efforts to ensure troop safety and the evacuation of non-essential personnel from Goma.

A Long-Standing Crisis

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, has operated in the region for over two decades and currently deploys approximately 14,000 personnel. Since 2021, Congo’s government, supported by MONUSCO and SAMIDRC, has worked to prevent M23 from advancing on Goma.

Despite these efforts, the rebels’ recent territorial gains underscore the volatility of the conflict and the urgent need for international attention and intervention.

This report highlights the escalating crisis in eastern Congo, where the resilience of peacekeepers and local forces is being tested amidst worsening humanitarian conditions.

Reference News :- International peacekeepers killed as fighting rages around eastern Congo’s key city