M23 Rebels Encircle Goma, Escalating Crisis in Eastern Congo
The rebel group's rapid advance has displaced hundreds of thousands, with fears of a regional conflict growing as the Congolese army struggles to contain the offensive.
- The M23 rebel group has seized key towns near Goma, including Minova and Sake, tightening its grip on the provincial capital of North Kivu in eastern Congo.
- Over 400,000 people have been displaced this year, with more than 178,000 fleeing in the last two weeks alone, as the humanitarian crisis worsens in the region.
- The United Nations has warned that the conflict, which involves accusations of Rwandan support for M23, risks escalating into a broader regional war.
- The Congolese army, backed by UN peacekeepers and regional forces, has struggled to counter the M23's advance, with reports of low morale, inadequate equipment, and corruption hampering its efforts.
- Goma, home to 2 million people and a key humanitarian hub, faces growing panic as civilians flee the city, recalling the M23's brief occupation in 2012.
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