Panic swept through eastern Congo’s main city on Thursday as M23 rebels steadily advanced toward Goma, capturing a nearby town in their fight against the Congolese army. Explosions were heard on the city’s distant outskirts, and hundreds of injured civilians were brought to Goma’s main hospital from areas affected by the clashes.
In recent weeks, the rebel group has made significant progress, inching closer to Goma, a city of approximately 2 million people and a vital hub for regional security and humanitarian operations.
On Thursday, the rebels seized Sake, a town just 27 kilometers (16 miles) from Goma, and one of the last major access routes to the provincial capital still under government control, according to the U.N. Secretary-General.
M23 is among nearly 100 armed groups competing for control in mineral-rich eastern Congo, bordering Rwanda. The region has been mired in a decades-long conflict that has led to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Over 7 million people have been displaced due to the ongoing violence. Earlier this month, the group took control of Minova, Katale, and Masisi, west of Goma.
“The people of Goma have suffered greatly, like other Congolese,” M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka posted on X. “M23 is on its way to liberate them, and they must prepare to welcome this liberation.”
Historical Context and Immediate Reactions
M23 previously captured Goma in 2012, holding it for over a week. On Thursday morning, as reports of the fighting spread, schools in Goma dismissed students.
“We are told that the enemy wants to enter the city. That’s why we were told to go home,” said Hassan Kambale, a 19-year-old high school student. “We are constantly waiting for the bombs.”
The Congolese government, along with the United States and U.N. experts, accuses Rwanda of supporting M23. The group consists mainly of ethnic Tutsis who split from the Congolese army over a decade ago.
Rwanda denies these allegations but has acknowledged deploying troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security, citing a buildup of Congolese forces near its border. U.N. experts estimate up to 4,000 Rwandan forces are present in Congo.
On Wednesday, Congo’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, told France 24 that war with Rwanda is an “option to consider.”
War in CongoInternational Condemnation
Late Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the “renewed offensive launched by the 23 March Movement (M23),” including the “seizure of Sake.”
He emphasized the devastating impact on civilians and warned of the heightened risk of a broader regional war. Guterres urged all parties to respect human rights and adhere to international humanitarian law.
Earlier in the day, Congolese authorities claimed their military had repelled an attack by the “Rwandan army” in Sake, though this could not be independently verified.
“The population is in panic. The M23 now controls large parts of the town,” said Léopold Mwisha, president of the civil society group in Sake. Guterres expressed deep concern about “reports of Rwandan troops on Congolese soil and continued support to the M23.”
Evacuations and Humanitarian Crisis
The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa issued a warning about the worsening conflict near Sake and advised U.S. nationals in North Kivu province, including Goma, to prepare for potential evacuations. Similarly, the United Kingdom released a travel advisory urging British citizens to leave Goma while roads remained accessible.
The humanitarian impact has been catastrophic, with over 178,000 people fleeing the M23 advance in the past two weeks. Many Sake residents have joined the exodus. The CBCA Ndosho Hospital in Goma struggled to accommodate the influx of hundreds of newly injured civilians on Thursday.
Thousands of people fled the violence by crossing Lake Kivu by boat on Wednesday, arriving in Goma on overcrowded wooden vessels, clutching bundles of belongings.
Neema Matondo, who escaped Sake during the night, described the horror she witnessed. “We escaped, but unfortunately others did not,” she said, recounting scenes of people being torn apart by explosions.
Mariam Nasibu, who fled with her three children, broke down in tears as she shared her ordeal. One of her children lost a leg in the shelling. “As I continued to flee, another bomb fell in front of me, hitting my child,” she sobbed.