United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on January 26 for Rwandan forces to withdraw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and cease their support for M23 rebels advancing towards the key city of Goma.
In a statement issued on Sunday January 26, Guterres condemned the M23’s ongoing offensive, which is allegedly being backed by the Rwanda Defence Forces, and urged the rebels to immediately halt all hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories. He also called on Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 and to pull its forces from DRC.
The DRC and the UN have accused Rwanda of aiding the M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels, an allegation that Rwanda denies. Tensions have escalated, with the DRC demanding sanctions against Rwanda after accusing its forces of crossing into Congolese territory. Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner described the actions as a “declaration of war,” calling for targeted sanctions against Rwandan military commanders and political leaders responsible for the aggression. France and the UK also voiced concern over Rwanda’s involvement, urging a withdrawal of Rwandan troops and an end to attacks on peacekeepers by the M23 rebels.
As M23 fighters closed in on Goma, the city’s residents faced increasing fear and uncertainty. Thousands fled the city, and flights were suspended at the local airport as government forces clashed with the advancing rebels. Gunfire and artillery could be heard on the outskirts of Goma, and by mid-afternoon, the rebels were approaching the airport. The violence, which has been intensifying throughout eastern DRC, has led to widespread displacement and raised concerns about the potential for the conflict to escalate into a regional war. The M23 rebels, who have gained control of more Congolese territory, claim to be protecting the DRC’s ethnic Tutsi population, but their advances continue to destabilise the region.