Revolutionary Army of Congo seizes control of a city: African countries on alert
The Revolutionary Army of Congo (also known as M23), which has been clashing with the army in the city of Goma, located in the east of the Central African country of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has taken control of the city.
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Following the statement by DRC Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula that 'Rwanda has declared war by sending troops into the country to support the rebels,' intense clashes broke out between the rebels and the army. After the fighting in the eastern city of Goma, the M23 rebel group seized control of the city.
The Uruguayan army, part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), reported that the rebels called on government soldiers to surrender at 03:00 local time, and that 100 Congolese soldiers had laid down their arms. MONUSCO personnel and their families were evacuated to Rwanda in 10 buses.
According to the United Nations (UN), while main roads around Goma have been closed, the city's airport can no longer be used for evacuations and humanitarian aid.
UN CALLS ON M23 TO 'WITHDRAW'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Rwanda to stop supporting the rebels and to withdraw its troops from the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Guterres also called on the M23 rebel group to 'immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from the areas they have occupied.'
While the United Kingdom demanded an end to attacks on peacekeeping soldiers, France's UN representative Nicolas de Riviere called for the withdrawal of MONUSCO from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Kenyan President William Ruto, the current chair of the East African Community bloc, will hold an emergency meeting at the heads of state level regarding the situation.
THE M23 GROUP
The M23 rebel group was formed in 2012 as an offshoot of another rebel group. The group claims that its purpose is to protect the Tutsi population in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, who have long complained of persecution and discrimination.
Both the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations maintain that the M23 group is supported by Rwanda. Although Rwanda denies the allegations, it blames the Democratic Republic of Congo for the current conflict.
Some parties allege that Rwanda uses M23 to "plunder" minerals such as gold, cobalt, and tantalum in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.