Airport evacuated as rebels intensify fighting in DRC

An international airport in Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been reportedly evacuated and commercial flights grounded following intense fighting between M23 rebels and government forces.

Goma is the capital and largest city of the north Kivu province in the country’s eastern region.

The M23 rebels advanced toward Goma on Sunday, prompting thousands of civilians to flee as government forces fought to prevent the city’s capture.

WHO ARE M23?

M23 is named after the March 23, 2009 agreement that ended a previous Tutsi-led uprising in eastern Congo.

The group, which is allegedly backed by Rwanda, launched a new rebellion in 2022 and has intensified fighting with the Congolese forces since the turn of the year.

The rebel group accused the Congolese government of not fulfilling its parts of the peace deal and fully integrating Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration.

Congo has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda as the rebel movement was said to have seized several territories in the eastern region.

DRC has demanded sanctions against Rwanda, alleging that the country’s forces had crossed into its territory which is tantamount to a “declaration of war”.

“More Rwandan troops have crossed the 12th and 13th border posts between Goma (in the DRC) and Gisenyi (in Rwanda), entering our territory in broad daylight in an open and deliberate violation of our national sovereignty,” Therese Wagner, Congolese foreign minister, told the UN security council on Sunday.

“This is a frontal assault, a declaration of war that no longer hides behind diplomatic artifice.”

Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, has called on Rwandan forces to withdraw from the DRC and halt support for M23 fighters.

“He calls on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. He further calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory,” a statement issued by Stephane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesperson, reads.