Published On: Mon, Jan 27th, 2025
World | 4,156 views

Rebels take control of ‘world’s most dangerous city’ as thousands of locals flee | World | News

A rebel movement claims to have captured Goma – the largest city in eastern Congo – as terrified residents in neighbouring towns flee the fighting.

The advance came despite the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) urging for the offensive to end, amid fears that a long-running regional conflict could escalate into a wider war.

The rebel alliance, called M23 and allegedly backed by Rwanda, has forced thousands in the east of the country to leave their homes, Reuters reports.

Rwanda has long denied backing the group.

The UN Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the crisis and has called on Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to return to talks to achieve peace, addressing issues related to the presence of Rwanda Defence Forces in the eastern Congo, as well as Congolese support for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The US, France and Britain condemned what they claimed was Kigali – the capital of Rwanda’s – backing of the rebel advance.

M23’s stated aim to defend the interest of Tutsis, especially against ethnic Hutu militias like the FDLR.

The UNSC spoke out against what it said was “the ongoing flagrant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC, including the unauthorized presence in the Eastern DRC of external forces”, without explicitly naming M23.

However they did demanded that the forces “withdraw immediately.”

In a video posted to X, DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya called for the protection of civilians, warning citizens that the country is “in a war situation”.

The DRC has called for UN sanctions to be imposed on Rwanda over the lightning advance, as international pressure mounts to end the battle for Goma.

On Sunday, Kenya announced DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame had agreed to attend talks in the next two days.

Kenyan premier William Ruto, who is chairman of the East African Community bloc, urged both leaders to “heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community”.

Ruto will meet with heads of state for an emergency meeting about the situation, an official at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In addition to the ongoing security issues, the city is known for its hazarous volcanic environment.

Italian volcanologist Dario Tedesco previously described Goma as “the most dangerous city in the world”, due to the nearby active Nyiragongo Volcano.

It once erupted in 1997, sending lava rushing at a horrifying speed of approximately 60 mph and despite the molten flow solidifying before reaching the heart of the city, hundreds still lost their lives.

Then, in 2002, 15 million cubic yards of lava spilt into downtown Goma, wiping out 14,000 homes and causing 350,000 citizens to flee in terror.