The East African Community (EAC) has urgently called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels continue to advance, seizing new territory just days after capturing the strategic city of Goma. The rebel group, which took control of Goma—a city of 2 million people and the capital of North Kivu province—on Monday, has now pushed southward toward Kavumu, near Bukavu's airport, in an apparent bid to expand its area of control.
The escalating conflict has drawn international concern, with the United Nations Security Council demanding a halt to the rebel offensive earlier this week. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing M23 with thousands of troops, a claim Rwanda denies. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, in a national address on Wednesday, vowed a military response, warning that Rwanda's alleged involvement could lead to "unpredictable consequences."
Despite the EAC's emergency summit, which included Rwanda's President Paul Kagame but not Tshisekedi, diplomatic efforts have yet to yield tangible results on the ground. The United States and Germany have expressed deep concern, with Germany canceling aid talks with Rwanda. However, the rebels remain entrenched in Goma, patrolling the border with Rwanda and consolidating their hold on the city.
Goma, a hub for displaced people, aid workers, and UN peacekeepers, is facing a dire humanitarian situation. Hospitals are overwhelmed, bodies from recent battles litter the streets, and isolated gunfire continues to echo in outlying districts. UN peacekeepers have retreated to their bases, while Congolese forces struggle to regain control.
In a significant development, dozens of Romanian mercenaries hired by the DRC to bolster its defenses were seen crossing into Rwanda on Wednesday, marking the start of their journey home. The mercenaries, reportedly numbering over 280, underwent security checks before boarding coaches to Kigali.
The current hostilities trace back to the aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 genocide, which spilled over into the DRC. M23, the latest ethnic Tutsi-led insurgency backed by Rwanda, has been fighting in eastern Congo since 2012. Rwanda claims that some perpetrators of the genocide have sheltered in Congo, posing a threat to Congolese Tutsis and Rwanda itself. However, the DRC accuses Rwanda of using proxy militias to loot its lucrative mineral resources.
Rwanda's Foreign Minister, in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, called for a ceasefire across eastern Congo and urged Kinshasa to negotiate with the rebels. Meanwhile, East African leaders announced plans to hold a joint summit with southern African leaders in the coming days to address the crisis. President Tshisekedi visited Angola, which has been mediating in the conflict, to discuss potential solutions.
As the conflict enters its most severe phase in over a decade, the international community watches closely, hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough to prevent further escalation and alleviate the suffering of millions caught in the crossfire.