Tens of thousands of people are fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo as rebels close in on Congo city.
Explosions and gunshots were heard late Sunday evening in the city of more than a million people, according to local media reports.
A Rebel Group spokesperson told Reuters that it would seize control of GOMA at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT).
This comes hours after Congo’s foreign minister accused Rwanda of declaring war by sending troops across the border to support M23 rebels. Rwanda said Kinshasa supports militias seeking regime change in Kigali.
Kenya called for a ceasefire and announced that Dr. Congo and the Rwandan president would attend an emergency regional summit in the next two days.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, the current chairman of the East African Community, said local leaders would help promote a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, on the ground, M23 rebels urged the Congolese army to surrender to avoid bloodshed.
The group has controlled vast swaths of mineral-rich eastern Dr Congo since 2021. Over the past few weeks, the group has been making rapid progress on Goma amid intense fighting.
The UN refugee agency said more than 400,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of 2025 in North and South Kivu and in provinces near the border with Rwanda.
Alice Feza said the displaced women were at a loss as to what to do next as they fled from Kiwanja, Rutshuru, Kibumba and now Goma.
“People are fleeing everywhere and we no longer know where to go because we started fleeing a long time ago,” Pezza added. . “
The United Nations said major roads surrounding Goma were blocked and the city’s airport could no longer be used for evacuations and humanitarian efforts.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congolese territory and the M23 Rebel Group to stop its progress against GOMA.
In a statement through his spokesman, Guterres called on Rwanda to “end support to M23 and withdraw from DRC territory.” He also called on the M23 to “immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas.”
This comes after 13 soldiers were killed in clashes with rebels who served as peacekeepers.
Britain called for an end to attacks on peacekeepers, while France’s UN representative, Nicolas de Rivière, reiterated Guterres’ demand for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from Congo Dr.
Dr Congo and the UN are supported by the M23 group in Rwanda.
Rwanda has not denied this, but the country’s leaders must hold Dr. Congo accountable for the current conflict.
At a Security Council meeting, Rwanda’s UN representative, Ernest Rwamucyo, said the international community regretted choosing to condemn the M23 group rather than the Congolese army.
On Saturday, the United Nations said it would pull all non-essential staff from Goma. Essential work is underway on Dr Congo.
