Panic spread in Goma on Thursday, with M23 rebels advancing towards the city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as they battle Congolese forces.
Congolese helicopter gunships swooped over the plains to fire volleys of rockets and troops advanced in the direction of the front line to stop rebels advancing on Congo’s provincial capital after first capturing a series of towns. Grow up.
M23 rebels have been advancing in recent weeks, closing in on Goma, home to about 2 million people and a regional hub for security and humanitarian efforts.
One of the world’s largest humanitarian crises
M23 is one of about 100 armed groups trying to gain a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, along the border with Rwanda, in a decades-long conflict that has created one of the largest humanitarian crises.
As a result of the ongoing battle, more than 7 million people have discombobulated bees.
Earlier this month, M23 rebels seized the towns of Minowa, Katle and Masisi, west of Goma.
“The people of Goma have suffered greatly, like other Congolese,” M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka posted on X.
MOUHILE, GOMA Schools sent students home on Thursday morning.
Congo, the United States, and United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 armed group. The rebels are mainly made up of ethnic Tutsis, who defected from the Congolese army a decade ago.
UN chief ‘concerned’
Later on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “concerned by the resumption of hostilities” and “in the strongest terms, condemns the new offensive launched by the March 23 Movement (M23) at the beginning of the year.” Started in.”
“This offensive has a devastating toll on the civilian population and increases the risk of a wider regional disaster,” the UN chief said in a statement.
jsi/lo (AP, AFP)