Dr Congo Conflict Escalates

The M23 rebel group has taken control of the strategic city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a major blow to the Congolese army and escalating a years-long conflict that has displaced millions, with the situation expected to worsen one of Africa's longest wars.

The capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, comes after a rapid advance on Congolese army positions, with heavy gunfire and explosions reported throughout the city. Hundreds of thousands of residents and displaced people have fled to neighboring towns in panic, as water and electricity supplies have been cut off. The M23, backed by Rwanda, has been seeking control of critical mineral mines in the region, with the UN accusing Rwanda under President Paul Kagame of supporting M23 with soldiers and weapons, a claim Rwanda denies.

The crisis has seen the death of 13 UN peacekeepers and hundreds of civilian casualties, with millions displaced in the eastern DRC. The UN has condemned M23's advance and called for a ceasefire, while the US and France have urged Rwanda to withdraw support for the rebels. The East African Community has called for an emergency meeting to de-escalate violence and facilitate dialogue between the parties, with Kenya's President William Ruto calling an emergency summit of regional leaders to discuss the conflict.

The situation remains uncertain, with gunfire and looting reported in the city, and prisoners escaping from a jail. The conflict has escalated rapidly, with the M23 advance timed to coincide with global distractions. Rwanda claims the conflict is a matter of national security, but DR Congo accuses the country of trying to annex part of eastern DR Congo to exploit its mineral resources, with diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and South Africa expected to deepen.