The capture of the airport occurred less than 48 hours after M23 seized the city of Goma. Confirming the development on his X account, Lt. Col. Ngoma stated, “The airport of Goma is fully secured by the lions [M23 forces].”
On January 26, 2025, M23 shut down the airspace over the airport, claiming it was being used by the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and allied militias to transport weapons that endangered civilians.
Meanwhile, the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly around Goma, continues to escalate.
Goma International Airport is a critical hub for North Kivu, serving as the region’s primary gateway for air transport. As of 2020, the facility could accommodate up to seven Airbus A320 planes simultaneously.
The airport has long been a vital logistical base for FARDC, United Nations peacekeeping operations (MONUSCO), international organizations, and commercial entities operating in eastern DRC.
EAPCCO is a coalition of 14 East African nations working together to combat transnational crimes that affect member states.
Typically, all member countries participate in such meetings to collectively make decisions. However, any absent member is expected to provide a reason for their nonattendance.
At the start of the first session, which gathered representatives of criminal investigation agencies from member countries, only 13 out of 14 countries were present.
The DRC was the only nation absent. IGIHE has learnt that DRC did not provide an explanation for its absence.
The DRC’s decision not to attend comes at a time when relations between Rwanda and the DRC remain strained.
According to EAPCCO regulations, an absent member that does not provide a reason cannot prevent the meeting from proceeding or stop decisions from being made.
However, once decisions are approved, any absent country has the right to object to specific resolutions or opt not to implement them within its jurisdiction.
The decision-making process at the EAPCCO General Assembly occurs in three stages. In the first stage, representatives of criminal investigation agencies draft a report outlining the year’s agreed priorities.
This report is then submitted to police chiefs during the second session, where it is reviewed and adjusted. Finally, the revised report is presented to ministers responsible for police affairs in member countries for final approval.
Established in 1998, EAPCCO consists of 14 member states namely; Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and DRC.
Those who fled surrendered following the capture of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, by the M23 armed group in the early hours of January 27, 2025.
Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga confirmed this to the French news agency AFP on January 27, 2025.
“More than 120 FARDC and Wazalendo fighters came this morning; we disarmed them just like we have done for many others in the past years,” Brig Gen Rwivanga said.
He explained that the men were received near the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, adjacent to the embattled city of Goma. The Rwandan government has made arrangements for their temporary accommodation.
While the FARDC soldiers and Wazalendo fighters crossed into Rwanda, fighting persisted in parts of Goma between M23 fighters and those who refused to surrender.
Additionally, Brig Gen Rwivanga revealed that FARDC, Wazalendo, and FDLR forces shelled Rwandan soil killing five civilians and injuring around 35 in Rubavu District.
However, restrictions related to arms and arms dealings will remain in effect, according to Kaja Kallas, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
Following a ministerial meeting, Kallas stated the EU aims to act swiftly while maintaining flexibility to reimpose sanctions if conditions deteriorate.
The decision reflects the bloc’s attempt to balance reconstruction support with maintaining leverage over unresolved issues in Syria.
Kallas also reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the need for equality in peace negotiations.
Her comments followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion of relocating Palestinians to other countries.
In a related update, the EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah crossing, which monitors the Gaza-Egypt border, will resume operations in February.
The initiative, supported by Palestine, Israel, and Egypt, aims to reinforce the ceasefire in the region.
Addressing broader geopolitical issues, Kallas underscored the importance of European unity in strengthening policies rather than merely responding to external actions, such as U.S. discussions about Greenland.
The development was confirmed via a statement posted on the South African Presidency’s X account.
“The two heads of state have agreed on the urgent need for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks by all parties to the conflict,” the statement noted.
On January 28, 2025, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, described the discussions between President Kagame and President Ramaphosa as productive and consensual.
As President Ramaphosa visited Rwanda in April 2024, he and President Kagame had agreed that a political solution would be much beneficial in ending the conflict in eastern DRC.
At the time, South African troops participating in the SADC mission had been operating alongside the DRC military and armed groups such as FDLR, the Wazalendo coalition, and European mercenaries to combat M23 rebels for nearly five months.
After returning to South Africa, President Ramaphosa stated that the activities happening there risk destabilizing Rwanda, particularly those involving FDLR.
Despite President Ramaphosa’s comments about shifting focus, South African troops under the SADC mission continued to fight alongside DRC forces against M23.
This persisted until January 27, 2025, when M23 captured the city of Goma. South Africa confirmed that between January 23 and January 24, 2025, nine of its soldiers were killed in the conflict. Seven were part of the SADC mission, while two were serving under the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Malawi, which also has troops in the SADC mission, reported that three of its soldiers were killed in two days of fighting against M23 rebels in the town of Sake and surrounding areas.
Reports suggest that just before M23 took control of Goma, soldiers under the SADC mission, along with UN peacekeepers, surrendered and awaited evacuation back to their home countries.
This development, which occurred on January 27, 2025, is seen as a significant step for the group in its effort to fully capture the city.
Since the early hours of January 27, M23 fighters have been patrolling Goma, considered the capital of North Kivu Province.
However, the city remained tense as clashes between M23 and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) continued throughout Monday, causing widespread fear among residents, with some beginning to flee.
On the same day, a small number of Congolese civilians, FARDC soldiers, and UN staff crossed into Rwanda through the border connecting Rwanda and Goma, seeking refuge.
Fighting intensified in areas such as Majengo and Himbi as M23 attempted to push further into the city.
Meanwhile, FARDC and allied Wazalendo forces put up stiff resistance. The sound of heavy and light gunfire continued to echo across Goma on Monday, leaving residents confined to their homes in fear.
Other parts of the city, including Birere and the airport vicinity, also experienced gunfire, according to reports.
Security concerns have spilled over to the border between DRC and Rwanda, where shells fired from Congo have landed on Rwandan soil.
Although most were intercepted, some caused fatalities. The Rwandan Defense Forces spokesperson, Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, confirmed that five civilians in Rubavu District were killed, and nearly 30 others were injured by these shells.
Reports from Rubavu also indicate that the shells were fired by members of the FDLR, a terrorist group opposing the Rwandan government, in collaboration with FARDC forces.
During a meeting in Nairobi, they emphasized that restructuring the AU would help the organization better serve the needs of the continent and its people.
The discussions, led by Kenyan President William Ruto, focused on revitalizing the AU’s structures and operations to enhance its ability to implement programs and manage resources efficiently.
The retreat was attended by presidents John Mahama of Ghana, Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, Taye Atske Selassie of Ethiopia, and Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau. Also present was AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
As part of the proposals, the leaders agreed to establish a committee of five presidents to drive the implementation of reforms.
They also emphasized the need to strengthen mechanisms for conflict resolution, advance financial autonomy, and operationalize the African Court of Justice.
These steps aim to make the AU more self-reliant and capable of addressing disputes within the continent.
Suggestions included creating a dedicated AU peace support department, inspired by the UN model, to manage peace operations more effectively.
The leaders also highlighted the importance of reducing inefficiencies and overlapping mandates to streamline decision-making processes and restore confidence among African citizens and international partners.
The leaders concluded that implementing these reforms is crucial for the AU to address the continent’s challenges and take advantage of its vast opportunities for growth and development.
The police chief made the remarks during the official opening of the 49th EAPCCO Permanent Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Kigali on Monday, January 27, 2025.
Addressing the gathering of heads of criminal investigations and Interpol central bureaus from 14 East African countries, IGP Namuhoranye emphasized the importance of collective resolve in combating evolving threats like terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, and organized financial crimes.
He stressed that criminal fugitives should not be able to find safe havens across the region’s borders, calling for more collaborative efforts in intelligence sharing and operational coordination.
“Your resolve should send a strong message to criminals and fugitives in the region that they will not find safe havens across our borders,” said IGP Namuhoranye.
The meeting, which is part of ongoing efforts by the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), serves as a platform for member countries to discuss security concerns and align strategies to tackle transnational crime.
IGP Namuhoranye urged the police chiefs to enhance the capacities of investigators and harmonize operational approaches to improve regional policing efforts.
The event comes ahead of the 26th EAPCCO Annual General Meeting, which will take place on January 29, 2025, at Kigali Convention Centre.
The 49th PCC meeting includes discussions on critical security issues such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime, with key sessions including counter-terrorism and cybercrime subcommittee meetings.
EAPCCO’s regional cooperation aims to consolidate efforts to disrupt criminal activity, particularly human trafficking, illicit drug trade, and intellectual property crimes, which have become increasingly sophisticated across the region.
Africa Apollo Sendahangarwa, the CEO of EAPCCO and Head of the Interpol Regional Bureau, also reinforced the need for a unified approach to combat these crimes. He highlighted the use of modern technologies by criminals and the financing of terrorism, urging member countries to work together to effectively counter these threats.
The ongoing PCC meeting is expected to lead to more coordinated and actionable plans in addressing the growing challenges posed by transnational criminal networks in the region.
The fighting in eastern DRC intensified after M23 announced its capture of towns such as Sake and Masisi and warned that Goma, the capital and largest city of the North Kivu Province, would be their next target. The city fell under the control of M23 fighters in the early hours of Monday morning.
Following the instability in the region major countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, advised their citizens to evacuate to safer locations.
The United Nations, which already has peacekeeping forces under the MONUSCO mission, had earlier stated that non-essential personnel would be evacuated.
MONUSCO requested to evacuate their staff and families through Rwanda following the closure of the Goma airspace and waterways on Thursday. M23 had accused the Congolese army and allied forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.
By 7:00 AM, the first group of UN staff and their families had begun arriving at the border, where their identities were verified to confirm they were UN personnel. After this process, they were transported by vehicles to Kigali Pele Stadium.
The first group, consisting of 660 individuals, mostly women and children, was received at the stadium at 3:00 PM. Plans were initially made to allocate them to hotels or transport them to the airport, but the United Nations opted to accommodate all evacuees in hotels first.
Meanwhile, the conflict between M23 and FARDC continues to escalate, with Congolese government forces intensifying cross-border shelling into Rwanda.
Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga, the spokesperson for the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), confirmed the incident in an interview with IGIHE on Monday, January 27, 2025.
Reports indicate that the artillery was fired by members of the terrorist group FDLR, which opposes the Rwandan government, alongside FARDC forces. Some of the shots were fired under military protection.
Brigadier General Rwivanga noted that the artillery was fired by the forces as they fled Goma, which came under the control of M23 fighters in the early hours of Monday morning.
“The fatalities and injuries are due to artillery fire. Looking at the situation, they are fleeing, setting up their hideouts, and firing blindly into Rwanda, not targeting soldiers but rather civilians,” he stated.
The spokesperson further noted that RDF soldiers responded with gunfire to push back the forces and minimize casualties.
“These are not direct attacks on military positions; these are defensive strategies to reduce the impact of the gunfire on civilians. The RDF is simply firing back at the source of the fire,” he explained.
The spokesperson reassured the public not to be alarmed, assuring them that security measures will continue as usual to protect citizens.
