The M23 rebels supported by Rwanda have Tighten Their grip on Goma, the largest city in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), indicates a major blow to the Congolese army and a dangerous escalation in a year -long conflict that saw hundreds of people killed and displaced millions.

March 23 (M23) fighters I entered On Sunday, Ghauma claimed that he took control of the city after a day. Three days of clashes between the Congolese armed forces and the Rwandan -backed M23 rebels killed more than 100 people and was injured by nearly 1,000 people in Goma.

On Wednesday, while he was largely fighting in the city, intermittent shooting continued in the northern regions of Juma, including Katoyi, Mabanga, Majengo, Kibwe and Turunga, where the situation remains “tense”, according to local media.

In a post on X, Bertrand Bisimwa, head of the political wing at M23, said that the group’s fighters were in the process of bringing “the last pockets of insecurity [in Goma] … under control. “

“Our army is working hard to ensure full security, complete calm and final peace, as is the case for all their citizens who live in the liberated areas,” said Bisimaawa.

With the appearance of the residents in Gouma from their homes on Wednesday, they saw the M23 armed group and the Rwandan forces seized the airport and were controlling most of the city and neighborhoods.

“After the heavy fighting, there is no audible voice to shoot in the city center and the streets full of cars during the peak hour and the loud markets are relatively empty,” said Malcolm Web from the island.

Speaking to the news agency via the phone on the phone, Rwanda Regional Ambassador Vincent Cariga said that the armed group will not stop its attack in Goma.

“they [M23] It will continue in the south of Kivu, because Guma cannot be an end on his own, unless they get a good dialogue and negotiate with the government in Kinshasa, which I doubt. “

He added that it is “possible” from the M23 fighters who can pressure the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo because the DRC “forces and capabilities” are concentrated in “Goma”.

Five diplomatic and security sources told the news agency Reuters that M23 fighters were on Wednesday moving south towards Boukavo, the capital of the South Kivu province.

The report cannot be independently verified.

The humanitarian crisis

Several international relief groups raised the warning on The humanitarian situation In the Congolese city, with the United Nations warning of potential mass displacement, severe food shortage, burdens heavy and outbreak hospitals.

Doctors Sans Sans, or Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement that its team in Goma also continues to treat the flow of the wounded at Kishiro Hospital.

“At Keshiro Hospital, the stage of the stage of the operations during the operation has penetrated,” said Virgin Napoltano, an emergency coordinator in North Kivu in North Kivu.

“Many of our equipment and drug stocks have been looted, endangering our medical assistance inside and outside Juma. The armed looting also affected our colleagues in Goma. One of them was shot in his home during an attack.”

The ICRC also expressed its warning about the “devastating” influence on civilians in and around Juma.

“We get a large number of calls from the injured and the wounded who feel lost and abandoned. Francois Morelon, head of the ICRC delegation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said,” Humanitarian Law.

“Depending on the duration of violence, the city’s food supplies can be strongly hindered,” said SEKRAL World Food Spokesman.

M23 is one of the hundreds of armed groups working in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo accused the United Nations and many other countries, Rwanda of supporting the group, denied by Kigali.

The group consists of Tutsi fighters and claims to be fighting for the rights of the Tutsi minority in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It appeared in 2012 after the outbreak of a group of armed forces from DRC (FARDC), complaining of poor treatment.

In 2012, the M23 seized Goma and dominated it for about a week before it was surrendered after the escalation of international pressure on Rwanda, including the suspension of aid from the United States and the United Kingdom.

However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo faced a return to M23 violence in 2022. The group has since advanced in Goma, and seized lands in battles with the Congolese army and two peacekeeping missions: the United Nations mission to the Monusco and Democratic Republic of the Congo and development community Southern Africa (SADC) is important in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission demanding the Rwandan forces is active in Gouma, which supports the M23. But Rwanda said it is defending itself against the threat of Congolese militias, without directly eating whether its forces had crossed the border.

Increasing calls to the ceasefire

American and European countries called for a ceasefire, while some countries, including Belgium, also issued the travel consultations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The United Nations urged Rwanda to stop supporting M23.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with President Rwanda Paul Kagame and “urged immediate ceasefire” in the region.

Kagame admitted, “The need to ensure the ceasefire in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and to address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.”

However, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo will not attend Felix Chesikdi, a virtual meeting with Kagame, which was set on Wednesday, according to the Congolese government media.

It is expected that he will address the nation on Wednesday, in its first general statement since the M23 Goma entered, according to the radio of the state RTNC.

Web from the island said the situation will remain difficult for the citizens of Goma until the fighting stops completely.

“Over the past two days, thousands of people have crossed to Gisenyi, the neighboring city in the neighboring Rwanda. Many others have remained in Goma.

He pointed out that electricity has stopped at least five days ago, and the Internet has also been cut in most places.

“Certainly for many people … the times are very difficult,” he added.

The International Crisis Group (ICG), a global research tank aimed at resolving the deadly conflict, issued a statement on violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, saying that negotiation is strongly required to prevent bloodshed from spreading.

“I left unanswered, fighting can spread throughout the Great Lakes region, reminding the horrors of the late nineties and early first decade of the twentieth century, when millions died amid a multi -country war in the Congo,” she said.

ICG has also suggested that there is a possible way to retreat from the edge of the abyss is for East African leaders to suggest a compromise: M23 withdraws from Goma and “an alternative African power, may have been assigned from East Africa society, [takes] Administrative control of the city “during negotiations.