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The military governor of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province has died from gunshot wounds suffered during an offensive by M23 rebels near the provincial capital Goma, which is under increasing rebel control. The rebels are advancing on two fronts near Goma, displacing 400,000 people this year and raising concerns about a potential regional war.
The U.N. Security Council will meet to discuss the situation, while the U.N. peacekeeping mission MONUSCO has carried out fire missions in areas under rebel control and repositioned its forces. Nine MONUSCO peacekeepers have been injured in recent operations.
Congo and the U.N. accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels with troops and resources, a charge Rwanda denies. The M23 group briefly seized Goma in 2012, prompting international donors to cut aid to Rwanda.
The rebel advance has forced families from at least nine tent camps near Goma to flee into the city due to heavy bombardments. UNHCR reports that many spent last night sleeping on streets or green spaces across the capital.
Medical conditions in Goma are dire, with over 500 people reported missing and an unknown number of casualties. The situation in Sake, a key rebel-held town, remains unclear as locals and an international charity representative describe ongoing fighting.
The M23 group briefly managed to take over Goma during a previous rebellion in 2012, prompting international donors to cut aid to Rwanda. Even then, the rebels did not hold as much ground as they do now.
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here for updates on the latest developments. Additional reporting by Ange Kasongo in Kinshasa, David Lewis in Nairobi, Matthias Williams, Emma Farge in Geneva, Michelle Nichols in New York; Writing by Alessandra Prentice, Anait Miridzhanian, Bate Felix and Sofia Christensen; Editing by Alex Richardson, Andrew Cawthorne, Diane Craft and David Gregorio. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/un-warns-congos-m23-conflict-could-spark-regional-war-2025-01-24