The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel militia announced on Monday that its forces captured the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, marking one of the most intense escalations both countries have faced in years. 

M23 briefly occupied Goma in 2012 but was defeated and forced to lay dormant for over a decade. Recently resurfacing, the group aims to occupy the city and exploit its valuable resources and rare minerals with the backing of thousands of Rwandan soldiers currently in Congo, United Nations experts speculated. 

However, it seems that M23 is in a stronger position this time around, giving it the potential to hold its occupation for longer. 

On Sunday, M23 militants seized key towns near Goma, including Minova and Sake, disrupting the supply of food and goods, with reports suggesting Rwanda may target Bukavu next. 

Fierce battles between M23 advance groups and the Congolese army were reported all day on Saturday, leading to the death of 9 South African troops and a Uruguayan member of the UN peacekeeping mission, in addition to the injury of four others.

The battle seemed to be pushing even closer to Goma's outskirts, with one source claiming that combat had reached Nzulo, almost within the city boundaries, bypassing the massive refugee camps that house more than a million people displaced by the conflict.

An M23 commander then announced the seizure of Goma, while the United States and France acknowledged its occupation, although officials have yet to publicly announce it. 

On Monday morning, gunfire echoed across Goma as military pickups were left abandoned along a road in part of the city. Residents reported that Congolese soldiers had deserted the vehicles and escaped by boat across Lake Kivu.

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Videos shared in local WhatsApp groups showed rebels advancing through the city, with some citizens gathering along the streets to greet them—likely an effort to appease the new militia in control. Unverified reports also claimed that Goma's prison had been opened, allowing inmates to go free, though no independent confirmation of this was available

#DRCongo 🇨🇩: apocalyptic scenes in #Goma as hundreds of thousands of people are forced to flee, desperate to escape from the advancing #M23 and Rwandan forces.

Many of the people have been on the run for over 30 years at this point. pic.twitter.com/rYX1jhGXjZ

— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) January 26, 2025

Casualties flood hospitals as clashes continue

As militants made their way into North Kivu, where Goma is located, and South Kivu as well, thousands of residents poured into Goma, fleeing the violence with the salvageable belongings they were able to transport on wheelbarrows, on foot, despite life-threatening injuries they have sustained. 

Myriam Favier, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s sub-delegation in Goma, described the scenes in the region, revealing that over 100 people flooded the hospital on Friday, a number of patients usually recorded over an entire month.

"They’re coming from everywhere. They’re coming from all fronts," she said. 

Favier reported that medical teams were treating patients suffering from mortar and shrapnel wounds, noting a sharp rise in the number of severely injured minors. She urged those using heavy artillery to scale back their attacks, highlighting that the influx of patients with head and chest injuries had overwhelmed the hospital’s capacity, forcing staff to place patients on mattresses in the parking lot due to a lack of beds.

In Goma, schools were being repurposed as shelters for displaced families. People were gathering as many supplies as possible to avoid going outside.

Many of those who fled sought refuge in Goma, fully aware it was a target for the rebels but having no safer alternatives.

Read more: Nearly 50 killed in east DR Congo crackdown on anti-UN protest