M23 Rebels Offensive in DR Congo (2025)
Following a lightning onslaught, the rebel forces of M23 movement allegedly backed by Rwanda took control of nearly the whole city of Goma, a vital hub for the trade of minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in late January 2025.

Escalating Situation in Eastern DR Congo: Photos From Conflict-Torn North Kivu Province

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On Sunday, a rebel alliance, including the M23 movement, said it had seized North Kivu province's capital Goma, the largest city in the eastern DRC. The rebels' actions drew widespread public condemnation from the parties within the national political process and foreign countries and international blocs.
The M23 rebels seized Goma's international airport in the North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), spokesman for UN secretary-general Stephane Dujarric, told reporters on Tuesday.
"Currently, M23 forces control the airport and there are real risks of breakdown of law and order in the city," the spokesman said, emphasizing that the main supply route for hundreds of thousands of displaced people is in jeopardy.
Armed clashes continue in surrounding regions, Masisi, Rutshuru, and Nyiragongo, which further displaces civilians and complicates the UN's humanitarian efforts, the spokesman noted.
On Sunday, Kenyan President William Ruto announced that the East African Community (EAC) would convene on Wednesday for an extraordinary summit on the DRC-Rwanda crisis, where Rwandan President Paul Kagame would meet DRC President Felix Tshisekedi.
However, the presidency of the DRC said on Tuesday that Tshisekedi would not attend the meeting with his Rwandan counterpart.

"President Felix Tshisekedi is closely monitoring developments in the east of the country. However, he is not planning to attend the meeting convened by President William Ruto," local media quoted deputy spokesperson of the DRC presidency Giscard Kusema as saying.

On Tuesday, the DRC capital Kinshasa saw a series of demonstrations in front of the embassies of several countries, including the US, France, Belgium and Rwanda. Demonstrators protesting against Rwanda's alleged support for the M23 militia looted the embassies and caused significant damage.
At least 100 people were reportedly killed and around 1,000 injured in the violent fighting in Goma. Hospitals in the city are overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the influx of the wounded, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
Take a look at Sputnik's photo gallery showing the consequences of the escalating fighting in the eastern DRC.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaPeople displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Sunday, January 26, 2025.
People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Sunday, January 26, 2025. - Sputnik Africa
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People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Sunday, January 26, 2025.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaSmoke rises over Goma on Monday, January 27, 2025, as M23 rebels make their way to the center of the town.
Smoke rises over Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, as M23 rebels make their way to the center of the town. - Sputnik Africa
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Smoke rises over Goma on Monday, January 27, 2025, as M23 rebels make their way to the center of the town.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaA Congolese woman stands by her 10-year-old daughter, who was wounded in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces, in Goma, Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Mariam Nasibu stands by her 10-year-old daughter Deborah, who was wounded in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces, in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) - Sputnik Africa
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A Congolese woman stands by her 10-year-old daughter, who was wounded in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces, in Goma, Thursday, January 23, 2025.
© Getty Images / Anadolu / Cyrile NdegeyaDRC soldiers who had fled the North Kivu province due to clashes in Goma and crossed into Rwanda through the Corniche border crossing. They surrendered to Rwandan troops in Kigali on January 27, 2025.
KIGALI, RWANDA - JANUARY 27: Some Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army forces, who fled the region due to the clashes crossed into Rwanda through the Corniche border crossing between the DRC and Rwanda, surrender to Rwandan forces in Kigali, Rwanda on January 27, 2025. Civilians and some United Nations (UN) officials who fled the region due to the clashes crossed into Rwanda through the Corniche border crossing between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the year due to ongoing violent clashes between the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and security forces near Goma, the capital of North-Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). (Photo by Cyrile Ndegeya/Anadolu via Getty Images) - Sputnik Africa
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DRC soldiers who had fled the North Kivu province due to clashes in Goma and crossed into Rwanda through the Corniche border crossing. They surrendered to Rwandan troops in Kigali on January 27, 2025.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaA UN armored personnel carrier burns during clashes with M23 rebels outside Goma in the DRC's North Kivu province, Saturday, January 25, 2025.
A UN armored personnel carrier burns during clashes with M23 rebels outside Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) - Sputnik Africa
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A UN armored personnel carrier burns during clashes with M23 rebels outside Goma in the DRC's North Kivu province, Saturday, January 25, 2025.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaCongolese children watch the deployment of government and UN troops outside Goma, Friday, January 24, 2025, as M23 rebels reportedly close in on the city.
Congolese children watch the deployment of government and UN troops outside Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, as M23 rebels are reported to close in on the town. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) - Sputnik Africa
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Congolese children watch the deployment of government and UN troops outside Goma, Friday, January 24, 2025, as M23 rebels reportedly close in on the city.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaCongolese government troops deploy outside Goma, Friday, January 24, 2025, as M23 rebels advance toward the city.
Congolese government troops deploy outside Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, as M23 rebels are reported to close in on the town. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) - Sputnik Africa
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Congolese government troops deploy outside Goma, Friday, January 24, 2025, as M23 rebels advance toward the city.
© AP Photo / Moses SawasawaCongolese civilians displaced by fighting with M23 rebels head towards the center of Goma, Sunday, January 26, 2025.
People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) - Sputnik Africa
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Congolese civilians displaced by fighting with M23 rebels head towards the center of Goma, Sunday, January 26, 2025.
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