M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have threatened to seize Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, after ordering Government forces to disarm and surrender. The rebels, who have made rapid advances in the region this month, launched an assault on Goma earlier in the week.
By Sunday (January 26) evening, M23 fighters had pushed past Munigi, a neighbourhood around 9 km (5 miles) from the city centre, according to three sources. The escalating conflict is worsening one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and raising concerns that it could lead to a broader regional war.
Willy Ngoma, a spokesman for the M23, told Reuters that the rebels planned to take control of Goma at 3:00 am (0100 GMT) and had given the Congolese forces a 48-hour ultimatum to lay down their arms, which had already passed. He stated that the soldiers could surrender their weapons to the U.N. mission (MONUSCO) and were instructed to assemble at one of the city’s stadiums before the deadline. A second rebel spokesman also announced that all boat traffic on Lake Kivu had been suspended. Meanwhile, gunfire was heard in scattered areas of the city after nightfall, though it remained unclear who was firing or if fighting was still ongoing.
As the rebels appeared set to seize Goma, the United Nations Security Council convened earlier on Sunday to discuss the situation, which has seen the deaths of three U.N. peacekeepers—one Uruguayan and two South Africans—over the past two days. Goma itself was plunged into darkness due to a power cut, with the situation growing increasingly tense as the rebels advanced.