NAIROBI, Kenya – The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has escalated dramatically, with rebels seizing Goma, the largest city in the country’s eastern region.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of an alliance that includes the M23 group, has made it clear: they’re not stopping here.
His goal? Overthrowing President Félix Tshisekedi’s government and pushing forward to the capital, Kinshasa.
Despite international calls for peace, unconfirmed reports suggest the rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, are now advancing toward Bukavu.
Their rapid territorial gains have forced more than 500,000 people to flee, deepening the region’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.
VIDEO – “WE are not leaving Goma city, and we are here to stay. We shall continue with the liberation struggle towards Kinshasha,” AFC/M23 coalition head, Corneille Nangaa Yubeluo commits, during a press briefing happening in Goma.
In response to the rebel takeover, President Tshisekedi addressed the nation, promising a “vigorous and coordinated response” to reclaim lost ground.
“Be sure of one thing: the Democratic Republic of Congo will not let itself be humiliated or crushed. We will fight and we will triumph,” Tshisekedi declared in a televised speech.
However, on the ground in Goma, Nangaa painted a different picture. Standing before journalists, he declared the rebels the city’s new administrators, promising to restore essential services that have collapsed since the fighting began.
Water and electricity have been cut off, and food supplies are running dangerously low.
“We will continue the march of liberation all the way to Kinshasa,” Nangaa vowed.
While military analysts doubt the feasibility of such an advance—given that Kinshasa is a staggering 2,600 km (1,600 miles) away—history suggests it’s not impossible.
In 1997, Rwandan-backed forces overthrew then-President Mobutu Sese Seko in a similar offensive.
The battle for eastern DRC is igniting tensions across Africa. The Congolese government has long accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, a charge Kigali strongly denies.
The situation took a sharp turn this week when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa blamed Rwandan-backed forces for recent attacks that killed 13 South African peacekeepers.
With regional leaders set to meet for an emergency summit, tensions between Rwanda and South Africa are reaching a boiling point. Meanwhile, Western nations are ramping up pressure on Kagame’s government.
The fall of Goma has reignited fears of a prolonged war, with potential consequences far beyond the DRC’s borders.
As the rebels tighten their grip, Tshisekedi’s government is scrambling to mount a counteroffensive.
But with international players getting involved and diplomatic relations fraying, this crisis is rapidly becoming a regional—and possibly global—powder keg.
For now, the world watches as one of Africa’s most volatile conflicts takes yet another dangerous turn.
