Rwandan Military Troops Advance in DRC Amid M23 Offensive Threatening Goma
Rwandan troops are reportedly crossing into the DRC to assist M23 rebels in capturing Goma. Reports indicate intense fighting near the city, with concerns over humanitarian impacts. As the UN Security Council prepares to discuss the crisis, Rwanda’s actions may preempt a global response, raising alarm within international communities.
Recent intelligence reports indicate significant troop movements from Rwanda into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in support of the M23 militia as it attempts to seize the strategic city of Goma. Reports suggest that the Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) has increased its presence at the border, with hundreds of troops stationed just a few hundred meters from Goma. Senior commanders of the RDF have allegedly been deployed to Gisenyi, a city bordering Goma, intensifying concerns about a potential invasion.
The situation has escalated with fierce skirmishes occurring between M23 forces and the Congolese army near Goma, leading to casualties, including South African peacekeepers. Intelligence sources have noted that the fighting has reached close proximity to Goma, raising alarms as the frontline shifts dangerously close to civilian areas. Despite heavy fighting, Congolese army sources reported a foiling of a significant offensive by the M23 opposing forces.
As the United Nations Security Council prepares for an emergency meeting on the unfolding crisis, intelligence experts believe that Rwanda aims to take Goma before any effective international response can be mobilized. The urgency is compounded by M23’s past success in capturing Goma in 2012, only to retreat under international pressure, indicating that current strategies may involve rapid conquest to preempt global intervention.
Prior to the recent influx of Rwandan troops, estimates suggested that around 4,000 RDF personnel were already active within the DRC. Concerns extend beyond Goma, with reports suggesting Rwanda also targeting Bukavu, located near the southern tip of Lake Kivu. The ongoing M23 insurgency has gained momentum this year, threatening critical towns and supply routes linked to Goma, causing further instability in the region.
Clémentine de Montjoye from Human Rights Watch emphasized the dire humanitarian situation in Goma, highlighting the urgent need for protection of civilians and infrastructure amid ongoing conflicts and shortages of essential services. The criticisms regarding the Western response have intensified, particularly regarding their perceived leniency toward Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and the RDF. Furthermore, the European Union has called for an end to Rwandan support for the M23 militia, demanding withdrawal of troops.
The current conflict in the eastern DRC has its roots in long-standing tensions involving various militias, political instability, and foreign interventions. The M23 militia, which has previously captured Goma, continues to threaten the region, itself rich in minerals and resources. Rwanda’s involvement is often analyzed within the context of historical relationships between Rwanda and the DRC, particularly around issues of regional security and control over resource-rich territories. The impending UN emergency meeting signifies the gravity of the situation, as the international community seeks to address escalating violence and humanitarian crises affecting millions of displaced individuals within the DRC.
In summary, the situation surrounding Goma is precarious, as Rwandan military movements bolster the M23 militia’s offensive. The humanitarian crisis intensifies alongside military confrontations, demanding urgent attention from international bodies. Furthermore, asymmetric support from Rwanda raises questions regarding the stability of the region and the efficacy of international responses to conflicts stemming from historical grievances and ongoing territorial disputes.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
