M23 rebels have seized control of Goma, North Kivu’s capital, after weeks of intense fighting that left over 2,500 FARDC soldiers dead. According to Rwanda Press, the deadly clashes involved FARDC forces and allied militias, including Wazalendo and FDLR, marking one of the most devastating battles in recent regional history.
On January 26, 2025, M23 fighters successfully overtook Goma, forcing government troops, their militias, and foreign mercenaries to retreat. The swift advance of M23 forces caught the FARDC off guard, leaving little time for an organized escape.
When M23 fighters entered Goma, they found the city largely deserted, with FARDC military equipment—armored vehicles and weapons—scattered across the streets. Some civilians fled ahead of the takeover, while others stayed behind, uncertain of what would happen next. The once-bustling city had turned into a warzone.
The human toll of the battle is staggering. Rwanda Press reports that more than 2,500 people, including FARDC soldiers, Wazalendo fighters, and their allies, lost their lives in the battle for Goma. Many of the fallen were discovered in abandoned military vehicles, left behind as the city fell to M23 forces. A surviving FARDC soldier who fled to Rwanda described the chaos: “We had no choice but to cross the border. M23 surrounded the entire city. There was no way to defend ourselves anymore.”
As the gunfire subsided, displaced civilians began returning to their homes in Goma, and life slowly resumed. Those previously sheltered in displacement camps across the region also began returning to their villages now under M23 control.
For instance, the Kanyarucinya camp was closed, with residents returning to Nyiragongo territory. M23 forces also facilitated the repatriation of civilians from the Mugunga camp back to Masisi, ensuring an organized return to their homes.
Meanwhile, there are growing concerns about the role of the UN in the region. MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in eastern DRC since 1999, has faced increasing criticism for its failure to prevent the violence. Some analysts argue that the UN’s presence has contributed to regional instability and is now distorting facts to justify its continued involvement.
As security deteriorates, many UN staff have fled eastern DRC, crossing into Rwanda through the Rubavu border on their way to Kinshasa and other locations. The situation in North Kivu continues to raise alarms over the future of regional stability, with the international community closely monitoring the developments.