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2025 Goma offensive

Coordinates: 01°40′46″S 29°14′01″E / 1.67944°S 29.23361°E / -1.67944; 29.23361
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(Redirected from Battle of Goma (2025))

Goma offensive
Part of the M23 offensive (2022–present)
DateJanuary 23, 2025 – present
(1 week)
Location
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo
01°40′46″S 29°14′01″E / 1.67944°S 29.23361°E / -1.67944; 29.23361
Status

Ongoing

  • M23 claims to have captured Goma as of January 27
  • Most of the city under M23 control as of January 29
Belligerents

Congo River Alliance

 Rwanda (denied)
Commanders and leaders
Corneille Nangaa[1] Peter Cirimwami †
Units involved
M23 forces
Rwanda Defence Force[2]
Strength
Total unknown
500–1,000 Rwandan soldiers[2]		 Total unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,326+ soldiers and police surrendered[5][6]
280 mercenaries surrendered[7]
17 peacekeepers killed[a]
100+ civilians killed and 1,000+ wounded[10]

The Goma offensive is an ongoing military campaign launched by the March 23 Movement (M23) Congolese rebel group against the regional capital of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The fighting is part of the larger M23 offensive in the North and South Kivu provinces of the DRC, which resumed in October 2024 after a pause. During January 2025, the M23 rebel group made a rapid advance in the Kivu region, arriving at the North Kivu provincial capital Goma on January 25.

Rwanda, which is widely reported to be supporting M23 with soldiers and weapons, was as a result ordered to cease all diplomatic and consular activities as well as leave Kinshasa, the DRC's capital, within 48 hours in light of the offensive towards the city. UN sources estimate that between 500 and 1,000 Rwandan troops are assisting M23 in the Goma area.

As of January 29, M23 controls most of the city as sporadic fighting continues on the outskirts,[11] especially in northern Goma.[12] The fall of the city has been the largest escalation in the Kivu conflict since the first capture of Goma by M23 in 2012.[13]

Background

[edit]

Goma has a population of around 1 million and is the provincial capital of North Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rwandan-backed rebel group March 23 Movement (M23), as part of their military offensive which has been ongoing since 2022, seized large amounts of territory in both the North and South Kivu provinces throughout January 2025. The amount of territory being seized and the speed of which it was happening prompted the United Nations (UN) to warn the offensive could lead to a larger regional war. Rwanda officially denies aiding the rebel group with troops and weapons, although intelligence suggests that Rwanda is supporting M23.[14] A United Nations report in 2024 noted that Rwanda's military assistance had been "critical" to M23's campaign.[9]

The Congolese government has described M23 as a terrorist organization that is used by Rwanda to exploit mineral resources in the eastern DRC and refused to negotiate with its leaders directly, as Rwandan president Paul Kagame and his government had insisted in December 2024 and January 2025.[15] In December 2024, the Congolese government also filed a lawsuit in a European court against the company Apple, accusing it of using illegally mined minerals from Congo to make electronics.[16] Coltan, which is used to make components in smartphones and laptops, is present in large quantities in the eastern DRC, and the conflict there has been described for years as being driven by the desire to secure this resource. Over the previous two decades UN investigators accused other countries, particularly Rwanda, of funding militia groups in the country, notably including the March 23 Movement.[17] According to the UN, between April and December 2024 the M23 rebel group has made $800 million in revenue related to coltan mining.[15] M23 illegally exports coltan and other minerals through Rwanda.[18]

Rwandan president Paul Kagame claims that M23 represents the interests of Tutsis, an ethnic minority in the DRC, which had previously been the target of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.[16] Rwanda's government also noted that during the Kivu conflict in eastern Congo the Congolese military has worked with the FDLR, an ethnic Hutu militia whose members had committed the 1994 genocide in Rwanda against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.[9] Congolese politician Corneille Nangaa, formerly the head of the country's electoral commission, declared his opposition to the administration of President Félix Tshisekedi in 2023 over political disagreements and formed a coalition of rebel forces known as the Congo River Alliance, which includes M23. The coalition was established at a meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in August 2023, consisting of multiple political parties and armed groups, most notably M23.[19]

Negotiations mediated by Angola between the DRC and Rwanda led to the signing of a ceasefire agreement in August 2024, but the deal broke down as fighting resumed with M23 on 20 October 2024.[20] Known as the Luanda process, the Angolan-mediated talks had the support of the European Union and the United States, but a planned meeting between presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame on 15 December was cancelled over disagreements on preconditions. Tshisekedi refused the Rwandan demand that his government negotiates directly with M23.[21][22] That month the fighting in the Kivu region between Congolese security forces and M23 and escalated.[23]

On January 21, the provincial governor of the South Kivu providence, Jean-Jacques Purusi, confirmed the capture of the mining towns of Minova, Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje in South Kivu, and Bweremana in North Kivu; Minova previously served as a key supply route into Goma[24] from South Kivu.[15] Additionally, these advances by M23 extended their control over more territory with coltan, cassiterite, and gold.[15] The fighting in the eastern DRC since the start of 2025 caused 400,000 people to be displaced in North and South Kivu.[25]

Offensive

[edit]

January 23–25: Initial advance to Goma

[edit]

M23 captured Sake, a town and critical road junction west of Goma that connected the city to the rest of country, from the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) on January 23. This allowed them to cut off its main supply line and removed the last FARDC stronghold before Goma. The Rwandan-backed group also controlled territory to the north,[15] and began its offensive against the city itself on the same day.[26] The quick success of the operation to cut off Goma indicated that FARDC morale and defenses in the region were breaking, causing fears of an impending fall of Goma, and Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi returned from his foreign trip early. An official statement from M23 on January 24 said that the group will "liberate our compatriots in Goma."[15]

On January 24,[27] the DRC officially severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda as the fighting escalted, with two South African peacekeepers being killed and a Rwandan sniper allegedly killing Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, the military governor of the North Kivu province, on the front line. Rwandan officials were demanded to cease all diplomatic and consular activities as well as leave Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, within 48 hours.[14][28] Rwanda evacuated its only diplomat in the Congolese capital,[29] and the DRC also recalled all of its diplomatic staff from Rwanda.[28] The Congolese foreign minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, described Rwanda's military support for M23 a "declaration of war."[30]

Congolese military spokesman General Sylvian Ekenge told the press on January 25 that "Rwanda is determined to seize the city of Goma".[8] As the rebel group approached the city, the Rwandan army amassed troops along its border with the DRC and its senior commanders arrived in Gisenyi, a Rwandan city less than a mile away from the border. Some Rwandan troops crossed onto the Congolese side to assist M23, reportedly intending to capture Goma before the UN Security Council meeting planned for the following day.[31] UN sources reported that the Rwanda Defence Force has de facto operational control over M23.[15]

January 25–29: Battle in the city

[edit]

Early in the morning of January 25, M23 advanced on the outskirts of Goma[25] alongside heavy bombardments, but advances were reportedly pushed back by DRC forces.[14] On the outskirts of the city, hundreds of thousands of civilians were displaced, especially due to the bombardments.[24] M23 closed the airspace around Goma International Airport.[25] Order in the city itself had reportedly not broken down, with a heavy police presence since the beginning of the offensive.[14] The Congolese armed forces (FARDC) set up a defensive line in the northern part of the city and the Birere area, including tanks, and are assisted by Romanian mercenaries and the "Wazalendo" militia.[4] The FARDC fought off the initial M23 attack on January 25.[31]

By the evening of January 26, the rebels were reported to have pushed through the Munigi neighborhood, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the Goma city center, which was defended by the FARDC and foreign peacekeeping forces.[29][26] M23 claimed that the city was under their control.[26] Some peacekeepers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the UN were killed in the fighting over the previous days; among the dead were seven South Africans and three Malawians from the SADC mission in the DRC, and two South Africans and one Uruguayan from MONUSCO.[8] The city was cut off from electricity.[26] Bintou Keita, UN special representative in Congo, told the Security Council that M23 were using civilians as human shields.[29] According to rebel leader Corneille Nangaa, after negotiations with some government troops M23 allowed army officers to leave Goma by boat across Lake Kivu for Bukavu, in the South Kivu province.[26]

On January 27, M23 claimed the capture of the city. However, fighting continued in several parts and "tens of thousands" of people were displaced.[32] The city's jail with 3,000 inmates was "literally torched" and the jailbreak resulted in fatalities.[32] Rebel fighters reached the center of Goma that morning. A spokesman for the rebel coalition claimed that Congolese army soldiers were surrendering, though the army did not comment. According to Uruguayan peacekeepers, 100 Congolese soldiers surrendered and handed over their weapons at the MONUSCO base as the rebels had demanded, while 26 Congolese troops and one police officer surrendered to Rwandan border guards near Goma.[5]

The government claimed later that morning that its troops are still holding the Goma International Airport and other key points in the city.[32] Agence France Press reported that the Congolese army and allied militias put up "unexpected resistance" against better equipped and trained Rwandan forces, during intense fighting in the city center and western Goma, although some deserted and abandoned their uniforms. Congolese soldiers and militiamen had also been involved in looting, along with part of the civilian population.[33] Looting was reported in Birere, Majengo, and near the airport.[34] The FARDC and the Rwandan forces on the other side of the border also exchanged artillery fire,[35] with Congolese troops on Mount Goma, firing at the Rwandan city of Gisenyi.[5]

As of the evening of January 27, the FARDC and Wazalendo militia still held some parts of the city, according to president of the National Assembly Vital Kamerhe. Combat was still taking place near the airport and surrounding areas. Electricity and water have been shut off since the start of the fighting. An emergency meeting of the government was held by President Félix Tshisekedi.[36] At least 17 people were reported killed during the fighting in Goma, while 367 others were injured.[37] Additionally, five people were killed while 25 others were injured in the neighboring city of Gisenyi, across the border in Rwanda, in an incident related to the fighting.[38]

Fighting for control of Goma was still ongoing as of early January 28. FARDC units were present in the city center, where the situation was unclear because of continuing combat, while M23 appeared to control western Goma.[33][39] The airport has become the largest pocket of government troops in the city.[40] According to a Congolese government minister, the FARDC controlled 80 percent of Goma, while the rebels and Rwandan troops have been pushed to the outskirts of the city.[41] However, later that day over 1,200 Congolese soldiers at the airport surrendered, allowing M23 to take control of it.[6][42] The surrendered Congolese soldiers were sent to the MONUSCO base, held by the Uruguayan battalion, and which is also used to shelter civilians.[42] South Africa confirmed that another four South African National Defence Force soldiers in MONUSCO had been killed.[9]

After the capture of the Goma International Airport by M23, fighting continued in other parts of the city with remaining FARDC troops and Wazalendo militiamen.[43][44] Civilian casualties were reported to be at over 100 killed and 1,000 wounded.[10] That evening, Tshisekedi appointed Brigadier General Evariste Somo as military governor of North Kivu and promoted him to the rank of major general, succeeding Peter Cirimwami who had been killed several days earlier.[45][46]

Most of the city was controlled by M23 as of early January 29,[11] and the fighting appeared to have slowed down as the M23 consolidated its control including the city center, with remaining resistance having been pushed to the outskirts. The rebel group announced its intention to establish its own administration in the city. Thousands of civilians fled to the border with Rwanda as the humanitarian crisis in Goma worsened.[47][48] About 280 Romanian mercenaries hired by the DRC who had surrendered left the country via Rwanda, after being taken into custody by the Rwanda Defense Force.[7][48][11] Captured Congolese FARDC soldiers and Wazalendo militiamen were disarmed by M23 at a local stadium.[11] Holdouts continued to fight in the northern neighborhoods of Goma, including Kasika, Katoyi, Majengo, Turunga, and Kibwe.[12]

Reactions

[edit]

Domestic

[edit]

The Congolese government rejected an offer by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to mediate between it and Rwanda on January 25, with the Congolese vice foreign minister saying that the DRC is "focusing on African solutions to African problems."[49] On January 27 it stated that its army is "more than determined to defend the homeland at the cost of the supreme sacrifice,"[32] and also that Rwandan soldiers are present in Goma.[35] On the same day, DRC president Félix Tshisekedi agreed to attend a peace summit hosted by Kenya.[2] Earlier, Congo's foreign minister described M23's attack on Goma as a "declaration of war" by Rwanda.[30] On January 28 the FARDC issued a statement that it is still "fully committed to restoring the authority of the State, neutralizing armed groups and ensuring the protection of the population."[50]

It was later confirmed Tshisekedi would not be attending the peace summit with Rwanda planned for January 29,[11] and he was not present at the virtual meeting that was held. He planned to give his first televised address to the nation that evening.[51]

The March 23 Movement told all of the FARDC defending the city to lay down their arms and surrender to avoid any bloodshed.[25] Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance that includes M23, claimed on January 27 that their ultimate target is Kinshasa and implied that they want to overthrow the Congolese government.[5] On January 29, a spokesman for the Congo River Alliance said that the situation in Goma was "very calm" despite ongoing "tensions."[50]

After the start of the offensive demonstrations took place in other parts of the country to show support for the Congolese military and opposition to M23, notably in Kinshasa;[52] Bukavu, South Kivu Province;[53] and Kikwit, Kwilu Province.[54]

The rally in support of the FARDC fighting in the east and in protest of Rwandan aggression continued in Kinshasa started on January 27 and continued the next day. Police were deployed to protect foreign embassies as the situation escalated into riots.[55] The French embassy was set on fire by protesters, while the Rwandan, French, Belgian and US embassies are also attacked.[56] The Congolese demonstrators see Western countries as the main source of foreign aid money to Rwanda and believe that the international community has not taken enough action to pressure the Rwandan government.[6]

International

[edit]

The United Nations accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels with troops and weapons.[25] On January 25, non-essential staff stationed in the city began relocating because of the deteriorating military situation on the city's outskirts.[14] On the same day UN Secretary General António Guterres called for Rwanda to remove its troops from Congo and end its support for M23.[57] The deputy head of MONUSCO, Vivian van de Perre, said on January 28 that the Angolan-mediated peace process needed to be restarted to "avert the looming threat of a third Congo war."[42] The African Union Peace and Security Council held an emergency meeting on January 28, where it focused on the need to obtain a ceasefire.[6]

On January 26, the Rwandan representative to the UN said that the Congolese military violated the previous ceasefire agreement and that the presence of foreign mercenaries poses a threat to Rwanda.[32] On January 28 a Rwandan government spokesman also pointed out that the FARDC had also worked the FDLR militia in the past.[9] Kagame agreed to Kenya's offer to host a summit between him and Tshisekedi.[2] Also on that day, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said that Tshisekedi "will have to accept talks with M23 to end the situation once and for all."[58] The Rwandan ambassador-at-large for the Great Lakes region, Vincent Karega, said that the M23 offensive "will continue" into the DRC's South Kivu province, on January 29, and added it is "possible" that M23 will continue all the way to the capital Kinshasa, though it was unlikely.[11]

The African Christian Democratic Party in South Africa released a statement that they were "deeply concerned" about the dire situation for South African troops stationed in the city after 13 of their peacekeepers were already killed, with the remaining likely not having access to proper equipment or support to continue fighting.[59] They further called for a ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations to begin for the parties involved, for all South African peacekeepers stationed abroad to return home until they are assured to have the necessary resources to fulfil their duties, and for the President and other members of the government to better address the situation,[59] who until this point only released a statement that they were saddened by the loss of some of their peacekeepers.[60] South Africa's Defence Minister, Angie Motshekga, stated that the M23 offensive against South African positions -resulting in the death of 13 South African peacekeepers- was only alleviated after President Cyril Ramaphosa told the Rwandan government that continued attacks would be interpreted by South Africa as a "decoration of war" by Rwanda.[61]

Angolan ceasefire observers stationed in the city were evacuated on January 28 as the situation there deteriorated,[62] prompting the deputy head of MONUSCO, Vivian van de Perre, to state the Angolan-mediated peace process needed to be restarted.[42] Kenya called for both the DRC and M23 to agree to a ceasefire.[32] The next day Angolan president João Lourenço called for the "immediate withdrawal" of Rwandan troops from the DRC and offered to host a summit in Angola between the leaders of the two countries.[63] The heads of state of both Rwanda and the DRC reportedly agreed to attend a peace summit in Kenya's capital at the invitation of President William Ruto.[2]

The European Union released a statement on January 25 stating that "Rwanda must cease its support for the M23 and withdraw".[14] Several European countries, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom warned their citizens in Goma to leave the city.[25] French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that "France strongly condemns the offensive led by the M23, backed by the Rwandan armed forces" and called for diplomatic talks to resume and a ceasefire between those involved.[2] A statement by British ambassador James Kariuki stated the United Kingdom was "deeply alarmed by the events in Goma", recognized Rwandan involvement in the offensive, and urged the DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomacy and form a ceasefire as soon as possible without preconditions.[64] The German government suspended negotiations with Rwanda regarding foreign aid on January 28.[16]

The United States warned its citizens to leave Goma because of the deteriorating situation[25] and one day later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the M23 attack, affirming that the U.S. supports the Congolese sovereignty in a phone call with Tshisekedi.[65] Rubio called for an immediate ceasefire on January 28, after a phone conversation with Kagame, and for all parties to respect sovereign territorial integrity.[66]

In response to the killing of a Uruguayan peacekeeper,[67] Uruguay condemned the "targeted attack" on UN soldiers, labeling them as war crimes.[68][69]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Among the peacekeepers killed included 13 South Africans, 3 Malawians, and 1 Uruguayan.[8][9]

References

[edit]
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  52. ^ "Des manifestations spontanées à Kinshasa contre l'entrée du M23 à Goma" [Spontaneous demonstrations in Kinshasa against the M23 entrance to Goma]. Radio Okapi (in French). January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  53. ^ "Tirs, crise humanitaire, coupures d'électricité et d'Internet : ce qu'il faut retenir de la situation à Goma ce lundi" [Shooting, humanitarian crisis, power and Internet: what to learn from the situation in Goma on Monday]. Actualite.cd (in French). January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  54. ^ "Guerre du M23/RDF: Les étudiants de Kikwit expriment leur disponibilité à rejoindre les FARDC" [M23/RDF war: Kikwit students express their readiness to join FARDC]. Actualite.cd (in French). January 29, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  55. ^ "Pneus brulés et voies barricadées, Kinshasa paralysée ce matin par une "journée ville morte" en soutien aux FARDC" [Burnt tires and barricaded roads, Kinshasa paralyzed this morning by a "dead city day" in support of FARDC]. Actualite.cd (in French). January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  56. ^ "French FM condemns 'unacceptable' attack on embassy in DR Congo". France 24. January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  57. ^ "UN chief calls for Rwandan forces to leave DRC as rebels press offensive". Al Jazeera. January 26, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  58. ^ "Congo tries to slow the assault of Rwanda-backed rebels amid reports of dead bodies in the streets". The Hill. January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  59. ^ a b "Escalating crisis in Goma threatening well-being of our troops deeply concerning". African Christian Democratic Party. January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  60. ^ "Media Statement: Defence Committee Chairperson Saddened by Killing of SANDF Soldiers in DRC". Parliament of South Africa. January 26, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
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  67. ^ "Congo: Muere soldado uruguayo en avance rebelde sobre Goma" (in Spanish). MercoPress. January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  68. ^ Tristant, Pedro (January 28, 2025). "El gobierno uruguayo cree que el ataque a soldado asesinado en Congo fue dirigido: "No fue casualidad"". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  69. ^ "Violencia en la República Democrática del Congo: Uruguay condenó los ataques que provocaron la muerte de uno de sus soldados de paz". Infobae (in Spanish). January 28, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
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