Video footage captured late Sunday night revealed flashes of light illuminating the sky and the sound of gunfire near Goma, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Amid ongoing heavy fighting in the region, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels announced early Monday that they had seized control of the regional capital. The statement came just before the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum the group had given to the Congolese army to surrender their weapons.
The United Nations reported “mass panic” among the city’s two million residents. Goma has also served as a crucial refuge for thousands of people who fled escalating violence in the area over recent weeks.
The rebels called for Goma residents to remain calm and instructed members of the Congolese military to gather at the city’s central stadium. Meanwhile, Congo’s government condemned the rebel advance, calling it a “declaration of war.”
The M23 offensive in this mineral-rich region threatens to escalate one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts and further displace civilians. According to the United Nations, over one-third of North Kivu province’s population, where Goma is situated, is already displaced. The fall of the city is expected to worsen the humanitarian crisis.
