Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has surrendered the country's sovereignty to act as a military colony serving US interests.
Rapid Support Forces attack El-Fasher, west Sudan.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone fired three missiles in the vicinity of the town of Bodai, west of Baalbek.
Reuters: The Rapid Support Forces announced that they have taken over the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces in al-Fasher.

Rwandan-backed militants seize DRC's Goma

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 27 Jan 2025 15:30
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

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

Listen
  • x
  • 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)
    People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the center of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Sunday, January 26, 2025. (AP)

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.

Related News

DR Congo army blames M23 for attacks amid ceasefire

M23 rebels sign ceasefire with DRC government

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

  • M23 rebels
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Goma
  • Rwanda

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)
Politics

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

A Russian cargo train arrives at Astara Railway Wharf, March 2018 (IRNA)
Economy

Tehran, Moscow to finalize INSTC rail project next month

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses the media after submitting his candidacy for the Islamic Republic's upcoming presidential election in Tehran on June 3, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UNSCR 2231 termination marks major win for Iran’s diplomacy: Qalibaf

ap
Politics

'Israel' killed 40 Palestinian children in West Bank since January: UN

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS