By : Lloyd Mahachi 

 

Gunfire spreads out across parts of Goma, the largest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), hours after the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said they had seized it despite the call for an end to the offensive by the United Nations Security Council.

 

The news comes after reports emerged that DRC and Rwandan troops exchanged fire on Monday along their shared border, risking a rapid ignition of the conflict amid the advancement of the M23 fighters.

 

 

In a statement posted on X formerly Twitter, DRC government’s spokesman Patrick Muyaya confirmed the presence of Rwandan army in Goma.

 

“The government continues to work to avoid damages and loss of life in view of the intentions of Rwanda,” he said, telling residents to stay home and desist from vandalism and looting.

 

M23 rebels announced the capture of Goma, which the DRC government described was a “declaration of war” by Rwanda. The UN said the capture has caused “mass panic” among Goma’s two million residents.

 

 

The M23’s claim came minutes before a 48-hour deadline altimatum which was given to the Congolese troops to surrender their weapons expired. Its fighters also urged Goma residents to remain calm and for members of the DRC military to assemble at the central stadium.

 

 

 

Two witnesses said had entered the centre of Goma. One of them shared a brief video showing heavily armed men walking through the streets.

 

 

M23 fighters have been locked in a conflict with the Congolese army and UN peacekeepers on Goma’s outskirts for several days.

 

 

The UN chief calls for Rwandan forces to leave DRC as rebels press offensive.

 

Due to the advancement of the M23, DRC cut ties with Rwanda on Saturday and called for UN sanctions on its neighbour.

 

With international pressure mounting for an end to the battle for Goma, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have agreed to attend a meeting to discuss the crisis on Wednesday, said President William Ruto at an emergency meeting of the UNSC on Sunday in response to the crisis.

 

 

Kigali dismissed statements that “did not provide any solutions”, and blamed Kinshasa for triggering the recent escalation.

 

 

“The fighting close to the Rwandan border continues presenting a serious threat to Rwanda’s security and territorial integrity and necessitates Rwanda’s sustained defensive posture,” Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

 

UN experts say Rwanda has deployed 3,000-4,000 soldiers and provided significant firepower, including missiles and snipers, to support the M23 in fighting in DRC.

 

In a statement, the UNSC called for the withdrawal of aggressive “external forces” within the region but stopped short of explicitly naming them.

 

This statement came after the UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Rwanda to pull its armed forces out of DRC.

 

Editor : Josephine Mahachi