Dozens of soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fled to Rwanda on Monday, January 27, following the capture of Goma, a key border city, by M23 rebels.
The soldiers entered Rwanda through the Grande Barriere border post in Rubavu District, where they were promptly disarmed by Rwandan defense and security forces.
M23 Rebels Tighten Control Over Goma
The M23 rebel group, engaged in conflict with the Congolese army since late 2021, seized control of Goma after issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the Congolese government. The rebels had previously surrounded the city, home to nearly two million people, and imposed restrictions such as closing its airspace and halting activities on Lake Kivu.
Their advance comes just days after North Kivu’s military governor, Peter Cirimwami, was killed on the battlefield. Many Congolese soldiers surrendered to the rebels and handed over their weapons to MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in the region.