DRC President Calls for Military Recruits Amid Rebel Advancements

Intense clashes between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army and the M23 rebels have resulted in at least 100 fatalities and 1,000 injuries in the city of Goma over the past three days. The fighting erupted after M23 fighters, allegedly backed by Rwanda, entered the city on Sunday, creating a dire humanitarian crisis, as noted by Jens Laerke from the UN humanitarian office. Local hospitals are overwhelmed with victims suffering from gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 100 patients with severe injuries were admitted within 24 hours, primarily children. The conflict has displaced over 500,000 people since January, according to DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner. Protests have erupted in Kinshasa, the capital, against perceived foreign complicity in the violence, leading to the attacks on several embassies. The U.S. has advised its citizens in Goma to shelter in place and to leave the country as soon as possible. The M23 militia is one of over 100 armed factions vying for control of the mineral-rich eastern DRC, a region critical for the production of tantalum and cobalt.

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has vowed to launch a "vigorous and coordinated" military response against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have captured significant territory in the eastern city of Goma and are reportedly advancing southward. In a televised address, he criticized the international community for its inaction amid the escalating security crisis, which has displaced approximately 500,000 people, according to the United Nations. Tshisekedi urged all Congolese citizens to unite in support of the armed forces, asserting, "The Democratic Republic of Congo will not let itself be humiliated or crushed." As the conflict intensifies, the city of Goma faces severe shortages of water, electricity, and food supplies. Regional leaders, including Rwanda's Paul Kagame and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, recently exchanged sharp words over the conflict, exacerbating tensions. Meanwhile, Angola has called for an urgent meeting between Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Luanda to facilitate peace talks that have previously failed to ease hostilities. The humanitarian situation continues to worsen as fighting continues between armed groups, with the international community pressed to intervene.

Protests erupted in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), on January 28, 2025, as demonstrators attacked several foreign embassies amidst growing violence linked to the M23 rebel group in the eastern part of the country. Crowds set fire to barricades and targeted the embassies of Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. The U.S. Embassy has temporarily ceased operations due to safety concerns and advised American citizens to shelter in place. The unrest was triggered by the M23's advance into Goma, a city in the resource-rich eastern DRC, where humanitarian organizations report that hundreds of thousands are fleeing for their lives. Reports indicate that dead bodies are lying in the streets, hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, and internet access has been cut off. The DRC government has accused Rwandan troops of participating in the violence and called for action from the UN Security Council. In response, the Rwandan ambassador denied any involvement in the fighting, while the DRC's Foreign Minister called for accountability for the alleged war crimes. Amidst this turmoil, an alarming situation has developed concerning a biomedical laboratory in Goma storing dangerous Ebola virus samples, which is in danger due to potential power outages and lack of security. The Red Cross has warned of catastrophic consequences if the lab is compromised. In response to the increasing humanitarian crisis, the European Union announced an additional €60 million in aid to help displaced individuals in and around Goma. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is actively engaging with both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in efforts to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians from the ongoing violence.