- UN reports over 700 killed in intense fighting as M23 rebels seize Goma.
- M23 advances south towards Bukavu, while DR Congo military sets up defenses.
- 400,000 displaced, as humanitarian crisis worsens amid ongoing violence.
The United Nations reports that at least 700 people have been killed in intense fighting in Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, since Sunday.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that 2,800 people have been injured as M23 rebels—allegedly backed by Rwanda—seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The rebel group is now reportedly advancing south toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
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The ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, which dates back to the 1990s, has escalated dramatically in recent weeks. M23, a rebel group composed of ethnic Tutsis, claims to be fighting for minority rights, while the Congolese government accuses them of seeking control over the mineral-rich region with Rwanda’s support.
According to Dujarric, the casualty figures are based on an assessment conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, in collaboration with the Congolese government, between Sunday and Thursday. He also warned that the death toll is expected to rise further.
In an effort to halt M23’s advance, the Congolese military has established a defensive line along the road between Goma and Bukavu, according to AFP. Hundreds of civilian volunteers have also joined efforts to defend Bukavu, with one young recruit telling AFP, “I am ready to die for my country.”
Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, the governor of South Kivu, told Reuters that government forces and their allies were pushing back the rebels, though independent verification of this claim remains unavailable.
Earlier this week, M23 declared its intention to continue its offensive until reaching the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, approximately 2,600 km (1,600 miles) to the west.
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, DR Congo’s foreign minister, accused Rwanda of illegally occupying Congolese territory and attempting to orchestrate regime change. She criticized the international community for allowing Rwandan President Paul Kagame to act with impunity and violate international law without consequences.
Rwanda, however, denies any involvement. Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo rejected the allegations, insisting that Rwandan troops were only present to prevent the conflict from spilling over into Rwanda. “We’re not interested in war, annexation, or regime change,” she told BBC Newsday.
UN experts estimated last year that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops were operating alongside M23 in eastern DR Congo.
Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc reaffirmed its support for DR Congo at a crisis summit in Zimbabwe. The 16-member group pledged continued assistance to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
SADC has deployed peacekeeping forces—primarily from South Africa—to combat armed groups like M23 and restore stability in the conflict-ridden region. In the past week alone, 16 soldiers from southern African nations have been killed in clashes near Goma.
The escalating violence has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in eastern DR Congo.
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Shelley Thakral from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) warned that Goma’s residents are running out of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicine. “The supply chain has been severely disrupted, with land and air access completely shut down,” she told AFP.
Since the start of 2025, more than 400,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting, according to the UN refugee agency.
DR Congo, Africa’s second-largest country, shares borders with nine nations. Previous conflicts in the region during the 1990s drew in multiple neighbouring countries, leading to what became known as “Africa’s World Wars.”
