THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has formally severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda as clashes intensify between government forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group near the key eastern city of Goma. The Associated Press (AP) reports that thousands of civilians have been displaced, while the escalating violence has left at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers dead.
Rebels close in on Goma
The M23 rebel group, composed primarily of ethnic Tutsis who defected from the Congolese army more than a decade ago, has made significant territorial gains along the border with Rwanda in recent weeks. These advances have brought the rebels closer to Goma, a provincial capital with a population of around 2 million and a hub for humanitarian and security operations.
The DRC, alongside the United States and UN experts, accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels. The resource-rich eastern region of the country is home to over 100 armed groups vying for control, contributing to one of the world’s largest ongoing humanitarian crises. Rwanda, however, denies backing the rebels, although it has acknowledged deploying troops and missile systems to eastern Congo, citing security concerns. UN experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan troops in the area.
Diplomatic fallout
In a statement issued late Saturday, DRC’s Foreign Ministry announced the immediate severing of diplomatic ties with Rwanda and the withdrawal of its diplomatic staff from Kigali. Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told AP that the decision was unilateral and claimed that the announcement was first published on social media before being communicated officially.
Rwanda responded by evacuating its last diplomat from Kinshasa amid what it described as permanent threats from Congolese officials.
Civilians and peacekeepers caught in the crossfire
As the fighting escalates, civilians in the eastern DRC region are bearing the brunt of the conflict. On Sunday, heavy gunfire erupted near Goma, forcing hundreds of displaced individuals to flee the Kanyaruchinya camp near the Rwandan border. Many headed south to Goma, but others feared the city might also be unsafe.
‘We are fleeing because we saw soldiers throwing bombs and shooting on the border with Rwanda,’ said Safi Shangwe, a displaced resident. ‘Our children are at risk of starving,’ she added.
Some attempted to cross into Rwanda through the ‘Great Barrier’ border crossing, but strict checks by migration officers slowed the process.
Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have seized the nearby town of Sake, just 27 kilometres (16 miles) from Goma. Concerns are mounting that the city could soon fall under rebel control.
International response and losses
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Sunday to address the escalating violence. Earlier in the week, DRC’s army claimed to have repelled an M23 offensive with assistance from allied forces, including UN peacekeepers and soldiers from the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
The recent fighting has claimed the lives of seven South African troops with SAMIDRC, two UN peacekeepers, a Uruguayan soldier, and three Malawian peacekeepers, according to statements from various officials and AP reports.
The UN peacekeeping force, which has been active in Congo for over two decades, has approximately 14,000 personnel on the ground. Since 2021, Congo’s government and its allies have been working to keep the M23 rebels at bay.
With violence intensifying and no immediate resolution in sight, the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo continues to worsen.
