Rwanda-backed M23 rebels claimed control of Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, early Monday, describing their offensive as a decisive step against Congolese forces. Congo’s government has condemned the capture, calling it a “declaration of war.”

The rebel group announced Goma’s takeover just before their 48-hour deadline for the Congolese military to surrender expired. Gunfire echoed across the city early Monday, according to aid workers on the ground.
The capture of Goma, a city of 2 million and the regional hub of North Kivu province, has triggered widespread panic. The United Nations reported mass displacement, with thousands of civilians fleeing for safety.
“We are fleeing because we saw soldiers on the border with Rwanda throwing bombs and shooting,” said Safi Shangwe, a resident fleeing the violence. Others expressed fears that Goma itself was no longer safe, with reports of bombs in the city.

On Sunday, heavy gunfire erupted near the Kanyaruchinya displacement camp, forcing scores of residents to flee toward Goma and the Rwandan border.
United Nations peacekeepers began processing surrendering Congolese soldiers on the outskirts of the city late Sunday. The U.N. mission, alongside Congolese and allied forces, has been struggling to hold back M23’s advance, which has gained momentum in recent weeks.
Two South African U.N. peacekeepers and one Uruguayan peacekeeper were killed over the past 48 hours, with 11 others injured. Additionally, seven South African troops from the Southern African Development Community Mission (SAMIDRC) lost their lives in the fighting.
Congo has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a claim supported by evidence from U.N. experts and other organizations. Rwanda denies the allegations, insisting its presence in the region is defensive.

Congo severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda over the weekend, recalling its staff from Kigali. In response, Rwanda evacuated its remaining diplomat from Kinshasa.
“This is a frontal aggression, a declaration of war which no longer hides behind diplomatic maneuvers,” Congo’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said during an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.
The U.N. Security Council condemned the rebel offensive, urging M23 to withdraw immediately. The United States and France joined the call for a ceasefire, appealing to Rwanda to end its alleged support for the rebels.
“We will consider all the tools at our disposal to hold those responsible for sustaining the conflict accountable,” said acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea.

M23, a group primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis, broke away from the Congolese army more than a decade ago. It previously captured Goma in 2012 but withdrew following international pressure on Rwanda.
This time, the group appears intent on retaining control over territory in the mineral-rich North Kivu region. Experts suggest their objectives are more deeply rooted in territorial control than political integration, as seen in their 2012 actions.
The ongoing violence has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in eastern Congo. More than a third of North Kivu’s population is displaced, and the capture of Goma is expected to worsen conditions.
“If hostilities spill into Goma – a densely populated urban center – the impact on civilians could be devastating,” said Joyce Msuya, U.N. deputy humanitarian chief.