US, UK, and France advise citizens to leave Goma as M23 rebels advance in DRC

The United States, United Kingdom, and France have urged their citizens to leave the city of Goma as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continue their advance in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. On Friday, North Kivu’s military governor, Peter Cirimwami, was killed during a visit to the front. 

According to United Nations documents cited by international news agencies, the military governor of the North Kivu province, Peter Cirimwami, sustained fatal injuries during a visit to the frontline on Thursday and succumbed to his wounds on Friday morning.

Fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army has intensified since the beginning of the year. Advancing to the outskirts of Goma and seizing key towns (including Masisi and Minova), the insurgents now control more territory than ever before.

Violence

The escalating violence and the rapid advancement of M23 has prompted various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and France, to urge their citizens to leave Goma. The Belgian government has strongly advised against travel to large parts of North Kivu.

Meanwhile, Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi cut his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos short to return to Kinshasa on Thursday for urgent security consultations.

Humanitarian risk

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that more than 400,000 people have been displaced in eastern Congo since the start of the year. That is four times the figure reported just two weeks ago. 

Concerns are mounting over the potential encirclement of Goma. Several key access roads are already blocked, which is raising fears of shortages of food and essential supplies.

On Friday, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of a broader regional conflict, urging all parties to respect DR Congo’s sovereignty and cease supporting armed groups.

^{Soldiers of the Armed forces of the Democratic republic of Congo (FARDC) advance towards Sake, 25km of Goma, in an attempt to halt the M23 rebels © Jospin Mwisha / AFP}