M23 rebels promise to march to DRC capital after capture of Goma

UN claims M23 fighters backed by thousands of Rwandan soldiers in lightning offensive on country’s mineral-rich east.

M23 rebels are advancing towards the strategic eastern city of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, vowing to maintain their rapid offensive until they capture the national capital.

The violent conflict in eastern DRC experienced a significant escalation this week as fighters from the M23, backed by Kigali, announced their takeover of Goma in North Kivu province before progressing southward towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.

At least 700 people have been killed since Sunday in the intense fighting in Goma, a UN spokesman said Friday.

In response to the rapidly evolving crisis, the leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) gathered for an emergency summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday.

This meeting comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa following the deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, stated on Thursday: “We are prepared to defend ourselves if faced with an attack from a coalition that includes South African forces.”