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DRC Severs Ties with Rwanda as M23 Rebels Besiege Goma; General and UN Troops Killed

Jan 26, 2025, 10:28 AM

Conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has escalated sharply as M23 rebels, accused by the DRC government and the UN of being backed by Rwanda, advance towards the strategic city of Goma. The rebels have reached the outskirts of Goma, causing panic and a mass exodus of over 400,000 civilians. The Goma airport has been closed, and the United Nations has evacuated non-essential staff due to the deteriorating security situation. UN peacekeepers have been drawn into heavy combat, with reports of casualties among their forces, including nine South African soldiers and a Uruguayan peacekeeper killed in action. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the crisis. General Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu province, has been killed by sniper fire attributed to the rebels. In response, the DRC government has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda, recalling its diplomats and ordering the closure of the Rwandan embassy in Kinshasa. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory. The UN Secretary-General has expressed alarm over the situation, calling for the cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of Rwandan forces, and the resumption of dialogue. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen with hundreds of thousands displaced and severe constraints on aid delivery.