Thousands flee as M23 rebels close in on key city of Goma
Thousands of people have fled towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as rebels close in on the city of Goma.
Explosions and gunfire were heard in New York City on Sunday evening, local media reported.
A spokesman for the rebel group told Reuters its forces would seize control of Goma at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT).
This comes just hours after Congo’s foreign minister accused Rwanda of declaring war by supporting the M23 rebels. Rwanda says Kinshasa supports militias who want regime change in Kigali.
Kenya called for a ceasefire and announced that Congolese doctors and Rwanda’s presidents would attend an emergency regional summit over the next two days.
Kenyan President William Ruto, the current chairman of the East African community, said it was the responsibility of the region’s leaders to promote peaceful solutions to the conflict.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the M23 rebels called on Congolese troops in Goma to surrender to avoid bloodshed.
Since 2021, the group has controlled much of the mineral-rich region.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu since the beginning of 2025.
One displaced woman, Alice Feza, said that since she fled Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Kibumba and now Goma, She will lose her next job.
Ms Faiza added: “People are fleeing everywhere and we don’t know where to go because we started fleeing a long time ago.”
The United Nations said key roads around Goma were blocked and the city’s airport was no longer available for evacuations and humanitarian efforts.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the territory of Dr Congo and the M23 rebel group to halt their advances in Goma.
In a statement from his spokesman, Guterres called on Rwanda to “cease support for M23 and withdraw from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” He also called on the M23 to “immediately cease all hostilities and withdraw from occupied areas.”
This comes after 13 soldiers were killed alongside peacekeeping forces in clashes with rebels.
Britain called for an end to attacks on peacekeepers, while France’s UN representative Nicolas de Rivière reiterated Guterres’ call for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congo.
Dr. Congo and the United Nations both say the M23 group is supported by Rwanda.
Rwanda does not deny this, but the country’s leaders blame Dr Congo for the current conflict.
Speaking at a Security Council meeting, Rwanda’s UN representative Ernest Rwamucyo said he regretted that the international community had chosen to condemn the M23 group rather than the Congolese army, which he said was a violation of the ceasefire.
The United Nations said on Saturday it would evacuate all non-essential staff from Goma. Dr. Congo’s basic operations are underway.
