Goma Falls to M23 Rebels: What It Means for Congo, Africa, and the World

Rwandan-backed rebels, M23, have claimed they have captured Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo.

The Congolese government has called the rebel advance a declaration of war, while the United Nations reports mass panic among Goma's two million residents. The offensive threatens it to escalate one of Africa's longest-running wars, displacing even more civilians. But how did this conflict begin?

Historical Roots: Ethnic Tensions and the 1994 Genocide

The origins of this crisis date back to long-standing tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi, two closely related ethnic groups in Rwanda.

The rivalry intensified following the fall of the Tutsi monarchy in 1959, leading to multiple conflicts. The most devastating chapter came in 1994, when 800,000 Tutsis were massacred by Hutu extremists in what the world now recognizes as genocide. The aftermath displaced over two million people, with more than one million Hutus and Tutsis fleeing into neighboring Congo.

Rwanda-Congo Conflicts and the Rise of M23

Over the next decade, Rwanda launched multiple wars against Congo, targeting Hutu militant groups and backing Tutsi-led rebel factions that destabilized the Congolese government.

By March 2009, the Congolese government agreed to integrate Tutsi rebels into the military and civil institutions in exchange for their reintegration into the country’s democratic framework as a political party.

This agreement led to the formation of M23 in 2012, named after the March 23 peace accord that rebels claimed the Congolese government had failed to uphold.

M23 declared its mission was to protect Tutsi interests, particularly against Hutu militias, and launched a rebellion. The group briefly seized Goma in 2012, then lay dormant for nearly a decade before resurfacing in 2021. Since then, they have steadily gained ground in northern Congo.

According to UN reports, M23 has received increasing support from Rwanda—a claim that Rwanda has denied.

Now, M23 has once again overrun Goma, a city of striking beauty and contrasts. Nestled between the active Nyiragongo volcano and the serene waters of Lake Kivu, Goma is a place of both fragility and resilience. The ever-active Nyiragongo, home to a lava lake, looms as a reminder of the city's vulnerability to natural disasters. Yet, Lake Kivu sustains life, offering a source of water, food, and economic activity to the city's residents. Despite its breathtaking landscape, Goma has long been a battleground, caught between the forces of nature and human conflict.

Goma, Eastern DRC

Kenya and the UN Respond

Kenyan President William Ruto, speaking on behalf of the East African Community, expressed concern over the escalating violence.

“We do not see a military solution to the challenges facing eastern DRC.” — President William Ruto

Meanwhile, the UN warns that over a third of the population in Goma's province has been displaced, with hundreds more fleeing as the city falls under rebel control.

The Human Cost: Stories from Goma

For many residents, fleeing is no longer an option.

Jackson, a Goma resident, remembers escaping the city in 2012 when M23 last took control. This time, he and his family have chosen to stay, despite the fighting.

“I can hear the bombs, the crackle of bullets. We decided to stay because those who flee can also die or suffer. We thought it was better to stay at home than to die running. If we’re going to die, it’s better to die here.”

Why This Conflict Affects the World

This is more than just another humanitarian crisis in a troubled region. The stakes in eastern Congo extend far beyond Africa.

The region is home to some of the world's richest reserves of critical minerals, including cobalt, tantalum, copper, and rare earth elements—essential components in smartphones, electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines.

This battle isn’t just about local power struggles; it’s a fight over control of vital global resources. That’s why major powers are watching—and why millions of people in Congo continue to suffer.