The capture of Goma, a key city in North Kivu Province also prompted officials to flee by boat to Bukavu.
Some government soldiers in Goma chose to surrender to M23, handing over their weapons, while others fled to Rwanda.
The soldiers who sought refuge in Rwanda were welcomed by security authorities in Rubavu District.
Over 20 individuals crossed the border with firearms, including ammunition, which they handed over to the Rwanda Defense Forces.
One of the Congolese soldiers who fled to Rwanda after the capture of Goma revealed that he surrendered because the FARDC forces were being defeated by M23.
He said, “I have arrived in Rwanda fleeing the state of war. We fought many battles, but M23 was winning. We came here to surrender to the [authorities].”
Alongside FARDC soldiers, United Nations personnel who were in Goma also sought refuge in Rwanda. They are expected to be taken to Kigali and accommodated in various hotels.
Currently, M23 controls the city of Goma and has declared the airspace closed, halting all activities on the Congolese side of Lake Kivu.
The group has urged Goma’s residents to remain calm, assuring them that the city has been liberated and everything is under control.
They sought passage through Rwanda’s Grande Barrière border to facilitate their relocation to Kinshasa.
The evacuation comes after M23 closed all other exit routes from Goma, including air and land corridors. Many UN staff members were accompanied by their families during this operation.
While the conflict in Eastern DRC has persisted for years, it has escalated dramatically in recent days. M23 has captured several towns, including Goma, a key city in North Kivu Province.
On Sunday night, January 26, international organizations, including the UN, announced plans to evacuate non-essential staff from Goma.
By Monday morning, January 27, 2025, the first group of evacuees had crossed into Rwanda, where they were received in Rubavu. Many expressed uncertainty about their next steps.
One UN staff member reported the absence of border security on the DRC side, with gates locked and no personnel present.
Didier Tebonge, a MONUSCO driver with 10 years of experience, shared his observations: “On the way here, we saw FARDC soldiers stationed near the main hospital and other locations. I didn’t personally see any M23 soldiers on the roads, and the journey was smooth. There were only FARDC soldiers along the way.”
At the border, Tebonge noted that only police officers were present on the DRC side, with no military personnel in sight.
Upon entering Rwanda, UN staff were received by the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. They were issued documents indicating their evacuation route from Goma to Kigali and completed forms listing the names of their companions.
Tebonge expressed uncertainty about their next steps: “We believe international humanitarian organizations facilitated this evacuation through Rwanda because no one knows if the conflict will escalate or subside. We are headed to Kigali, and from there, we may relocate to Kinshasa.”
Aboubakar, a Goma resident, described the city as chaotic on the night of January 26:
“Last night in Goma was extremely dangerous. I stayed at a MONUSCO camp, but even there, we could hear gunfire and see flashes of light in the sky. While fleeing, we saw abandoned weapons and military vehicles left behind by the FARDC.”
On January 25, M23 demanded that FARDC troops and allied groups, including FDLR, Wazalendo, and Burundian forces, surrender their weapons. The group later declared Goma’s airspace closed, accusing the Congolese military of using it to transport weapons to harm civilians.
Aboubakar added: “There are no FARDC soldiers left in the city; they’ve all fled. The situation is dire.”
After crossing the border, evacuees were transported to Kigali, where they will first gather at Kigali Pelé Stadium. From there, they will be accommodated in various hotels across the city.
Rwanda is providing logistical support for the evacuation, including transportation to Kigali. The UN is responsible for covering accommodations and other related needs for the evacuees.
As school officials begin the daunting task of rebuilding, they face an estimated cost of hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, with recovery expected to take years.
At least 12 schools in Los Angeles County have suffered significant damage, with five campuses destroyed, according to CalMatters, a nonprofit news organization focusing on local agendas in California.
Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school system, lost two elementary schools in Pacific Palisades, while Palisades Charter High School was heavily damaged. In Pasadena and Altadena, three additional elementary schools were destroyed.
The financial toll is overwhelming. Rebuilding could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. “Rebuilding these schools could take years,” said Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools.
One source of relief is California’s Proposition 2, a 10-billion-dollar school construction bond passed in November to fund repairs and rebuild efforts, including damage from disasters like wildfires.
However, the fund is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and there is already a significant backlog of schools waiting for assistance. Priority will likely go to schools damaged by fires, raising concerns for districts with other urgent needs.
“There is a growing concern that Prop. 2 funds will be quickly depleted, leaving smaller districts like Keyes struggling to address our own long-term facility needs,” said Helio Brasil, superintendent of Keyes Union School District, which serves low-income students near Modesto.
The California Legislature has approved a 2.5-billion-dollar fire relief package for the Los Angeles area. However, the rebuilding process will rely on multiple funding sources, including insurance, private grants, local bonds, lawsuit settlements, and both state and federal funds.
In the meantime, districts are scrambling for temporary solutions. The Los Angeles Unified School District has already relocated students from the two destroyed schools to other campuses and is focusing on providing mental health support for students and staff coping with trauma.
The impact extends far beyond rebuilding structures.
Thousands of students and staff have been displaced. In the Pasadena Unified School District, more than 1,300 staff members lost homes within the burn zone, and the district estimates that thousands of students and families have been affected.
“The pain of being evacuated, losing your home, or having family and friends who have been impacted… it’s just so devastating,” said Duardo.
“At so many districts in our county, the superintendent themselves has been evacuated, or 50 percent of the staff has been evacuated. And meanwhile, they’re all trying to help their students.”
The rebuilding effort is further complicated by the need to prepare for future fire risks. With climate change increasing the likelihood of severe wildfires, there is growing debate about how to rebuild more resiliently.
“Are we just inviting another problem down the road?” asked Michael Hricak, an adjunct professor of architecture at the University of Southern California.
Past wildfire recovery efforts in California suggest the road to rebuilding will be long. In Sonoma County, the Anova Center for Education, destroyed in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, only reopened in early January, more than seven years later.
Devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the Paradise Unified School District has spent 155 million dollars rebuilding campuses but still needs an additional 150 million dollars to complete repairs.
President Ruto shared the development on Sunday night in a statement posted on his X account, describing the ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC as a severe humanitarian crisis.
“The escalating deteriorating peace and security situation in the DRC is of grave concern. The humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by ongoing military actions, including the closure of airspace in Goma,” he stated.
President Ruto urged all parties to pursue dialogue as a way to resolve the crisis.
“As chair of the EAC, I call on the parties to the Luanda process and my brothers, President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, both of whom I have spoken to this evening, to heed the call for peace from the people of our region and the international community,” he said.
Ruto added that after consulting with his fellow EAC leaders, they agreed to convene an extraordinary summit of the EAC Heads of State within 48 hours to determine the way forward.
His announcement came in the wake of heavy fighting near the outskirts of Goma, with the M23 rebel group openly declaring its intent to take control of the city.
In the early hours of Monday, January 27, 2025, M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka announced the rebel group had taken control of Goma and urged residents to remain calm.
He also urged Congolese soldiers still in Goma to surrender their arms to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUSCO) and gather at Goma’s Stade de l’Unité before 3 a.m., warning that after the deadline, the city would be fully under M23’s control.
The group’s political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, confirmed the takeover in the early hours of January 27, 2025.
“We urge the residents of Goma to remain calm. The liberation of the city has been successfully carried out, and the situation is under control,” Kanyuka stated.
As M23 fighters moved into the city, Kanyuka called on DRC soldiers to surrender their weapons to United Nations peacekeeping forces under MONUSCO.
He also instructed them to gather at Goma’s Stade de l’Unité before 3 a.m., warning that after the deadline, the city would be fully under M23’s control.
Uruguayan peacekeepers with the UN mission reported that many DRC soldiers began fleeing M23 advances late last night.
M23 has also temporarily suspended activities on Lake Kivu and Lake Albert, pending further announcements.
The group’s capture of Goma followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued to DRC forces, demanding they lay down their arms to avoid turning the city into a battlefield.
This ultimatum came after several days of intense fighting around Sake and the outskirts of Goma, which began on January 23.
Despite assistance from UN forces and the Southern African Development Community (SAMIDRC), the DRC military was eventually overpowered, forcing the withdrawal of allied troops and paving the way for M23 to seize control of the city.
He highlighted this in an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Mukuralinda emphasized that while fighting continues between the M23 group and the DR Congo army, along with allied groups including Burundian forces, Wazalendo, FDLR terrorist group, SAMDRC, and mercenaries, and some of the fighting is near Rwanda’s border, citizens have no cause for concern.
“What I can assure you is that Rwanda’s security, particularly in Rubavu and other nearby areas, is secure with no problems arising,” he stated.
“No one has crossed from Congo to destabilize Rwanda, but citizens have reported hearing gunfire nearby. Indeed, it’s no surprise that fighting is near Rwanda’s border, and it’s also not surprising that a stray bullet might land in Rwanda.”
Some residents of Rubavu District expressed concerns due to hearing gunfire close to them, and in some cases, bullets have landed on Rwandan soil after being fired from the DRC.
Alain Mukuralinda explained that while fighting is occurring near Rwanda’s border, it is possible for a bullet to land on Rwandan soil, but this should be investigated by the relevant authorities to understand the cause.
He said, “This has happened before, as we know. The important thing is that when it happens, Rwanda’s army also monitors the situation. They track it to determine if a bullet fell, whether anyone was injured, if there was damage, and if the bullet’s fall was accidental, a mistake, or if it was intentional.”
He confirmed that once the investigation is completed, the Rwandan Government informs citizens of the findings and reiterated that there is no cause for alarm regarding the country’s security.
Mukuralinda also mentioned that any citizen with concerns can approach local civil and military authorities, who can provide guidance on how to respond.
Reliable reports indicate that one bullet pierced a house in Cyanzarwe Sector, Busigari Cell, Bugu Village, entering from outside. In Rubavu District’s Rutagara area, a bullet hit and killed a resident’s goat.
Regarding those who might believe the gunfire near Rubavu is a result of provocations by the DRC, Mukuralinda stated that such incidents would be thoroughly investigated and addressed by the relevant commission.
He added, “If it happens, Rwanda’s army will investigate and take the necessary steps. If residents remember anything about the incident, we have a joint commission where both countries collaborate. So, if a bullet falls in Rwanda or if an aircraft crosses the border, military personnel infiltrates, all of these situations are handled by a commission that makes decisions to clarify what occurred.”
He said that relocation could be considered if it is found that civilians in areas affected by the conflict in the DRC.
Since tensions arose between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been repeated incidents of provocations from the Congolese side, including violations of Rwandan airspace by the DRC’s military aircraft, with one such incident resulting in the aircraft being shot in January 2023.
Mukuralinda emphasized that Rwanda’s army is vigilant and prepared to defend the country against any potential attack.
Ambassador Rwamucyo emphasized that resolving the situation is primarily the DRC’s responsibility, stating that it requires ownership and political goodwill from the Congolese leadership rather than a military solution.
“The solution to this problem cannot be outsourced. It requires ownership and political will, and looking at the root causes of the conflict comprehensively and addressing them,” Ambassador Rwamucyo stated.
The meeting focused on the intensifying fight involving the M23 rebels, the Congolese army (FARDC), and allied forces, including FDLR and Burundian soldiers.
Ambassador Rwamucyo criticized the DRC for undermining peace initiatives and prioritizing military action.
“The DRC has all the necessary tools to achieve a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict,” he said, lamenting that the Congolese government had instead opted for militarization.
He highlighted the deployment of heavy weaponry and additional troops near the Rwandan border, as well as the FARDC’s actions that violated a ceasefire agreement.
According to Ambassador Rwamucyo, the international community has failed to address these violations equitably.
“Unfortunately, we regret that the international community chose to condemn the M23 for extending its territories without condemning FARDC’s military coalition for violating the ceasefire,” he said.
A central issue raised during the speech was the presence of the FDLR, a genocidal militia responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which has operated in eastern Congo for decades.
Ambassador Rwamucyo expressed Rwanda’s frustration over the DRC’s failure to neutralize the group, accusing Kinshasa of forming alliances with the FDLR.
“Today, the FDLR has even moved from being a speculative force to a strategic ally of the Kinshasa government,” he noted, describing the militia’s role in destabilizing the region and spreading genocidal ideologies.
He also pointed to MONUSCO’s controversial involvement, alleging that the UN mission had exceeded its peacekeeping mandate.
“MONUSCO… has now joined a broader coalition with a clearly stated goal, which is to enact regime change in Rwanda,” Ambassador Rwamucyo said, citing DRC President Félix Tshisekedi’s threats to invade Rwanda.
While reiterating Rwanda’s commitment to peaceful dialogue, he called for dialogue between the M23 and the Congolese leadership to resolve longstanding issues.
“We strongly believe that there is no military solution to this problem. It has to be resolved politically, diplomatically, and with the support of all partners acting together,” he said.
“Rwanda stands ready to do its part in making sure a practical solution is found that addresses the concerns of all actors involved on an equal footing.”
The ambassador’s remarks come amid mounting tension in eastern Congo, where the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. Thousands of civilians have been displaced by the ongoing conflict, with reports of indiscriminate shelling and targeted attacks in populated areas.
Various member countries represented at the gathering also expressed concerns over the prevailing security situation in eastern Congo. M23 fighters have been gaining ground, seizing control of areas including Minova, Masisi, Lumbishi, Numbi, Shanje, and Sake, and threatening to capture Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and home to about two million people.
The group announced on Thursday that its mission is to liberate the Congolese people, particularly Rwandophones, whom the group alleges have faced long-standing persecution.
An intense battle between the coalition forces and M23 has claimed the lives of at least 13 foreign soldiers from MONUSCO and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the past three days.
The council members urged M23 to halt its offensive against the coalition forces and called for the resumption of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes to help facilitate an amicable solution to the crisis.
A Head of State summit, which was scheduled for mid-December in Luanda, was postponed after the talks faltered due to the DRC’s refusal to engage directly with M23, despite previous commitments to do so.
In a statement released on Sunday, January 26, 2025, the fighters accused the coalition forces of “using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population”.
The fighters called for foreign troops working alongside the FARDC to stop killing civilians and immediately withdraw from the country’s territory.
“The coalition forces supporting the Kinshasa regime are using Goma airport to load bombs that are killing the civilian population,” said M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka.
“AFC/M23 calls on all foreign armed forces present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Burundian National Defense Force (FDNB), SAMIDRC, Private Military Companies (MPC) Ajemira, to immediately stop killing our people and leave Congolese soil.”
In recent days, heavy fighting has occurred between government forces (FARDC) and their allies, including SAMIRDC, Burundi’s military, MONUSCO troops, and allied groups such as FDLR and Wazalendo, in areas surrounding the City of Goma, with many FARDC soldiers having been expelled from these areas by the M23.
At least 13 soldiers from MONUSCO and SADC were killed over the last two days as M23 sought to capture Goma.
Meanwhile, M23 on Saturday, January 25, 2025, called for government forces and their allies to lay down their arms within 48 hours to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
Countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States have recently advised their citizens in Goma to leave and seek safer areas.
Yesterday, the UN announced that it had decided to temporarily relocate non-essential staff from Goma following a sharp escalation in hostilities.
In a statement, the UN confirmed that the relocation affects administrative personnel and those whose tasks can be performed remotely. However, the organization emphasized that this decision will not impact its ongoing humanitarian efforts in North Kivu, particularly in providing food, medical aid, and shelter to vulnerable populations.
The relocation will be reassessed as the security situation continues to evolve.
Reports of the death of Ntawunguka, also known as Omega began circulating on Saturday morning. He is said to have died during clashes between the M23 rebel group and a coalition of forces including the FDLR in Nyiragongo territory.
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe also mentioned the death of Ntawunguka while addressing the ongoing cooperation between the Congolese army, FARDC and the FDLR.
In a post on X, Minister Nduhungirehe pointed out that the collaboration was evidenced by a recent visit by the First Lady of the DRC, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, to a hospital to see FDLR fighters injured in combat with the M23 fighters.
“I guess that we don’t need any more evidence of the support that this Rwandan genocidal force, which has spread its extermination ideology to the whole FARDC military coalition, benefits at the highest level in Kinshasa,” Minister Nduhungirehe stated.
He added, “It is worth noting that this visit happened few hours after the permanent neutralization of “General” Pacifique Ntawunguka, the FDLR top commander known as “Omega”, despite the attempts by the FARDC military coalition to save his life.”
Ntawunguka, also known by aliases Mulefu, Nzeri, and Israël, was born in 1964 in Gasebeya Sector, Gaseke Commune, in the former Gisenyi Prefecture, now part of Ngororero District in Rwanda’s Western Province.
He attended primary school in Gaseke and secondary school at Rwankeli before enrolling at Collège Christ Roi in Nyanza. Later, he pursued military training at ESM (École Supérieure Militaire) in Kigali. After ESM, he furthered his education in aviation in Egypt, Greece, and France.
When the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi began, Omega was leading the 94th Battalion operating in Mutara. He was defeated by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and sustained a leg injury during the fighting before retreating to Kigali.
Following the defeat of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR), Omega fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) along with other ex-FAR members.
Over the years, efforts were made to persuade Ntawunguka to return to Rwanda, but he consistently refused. In 2016, this was highlighted by Gen. (Rtd) James Kabarebe, who recounted his personal efforts to convince Omega to return.
Gen. Kabarebe stated: “I personally called him and said, ‘Pacifique, you’re educated, a pilot trained in France. You’re not ignorant. You’ve been in the Congo forests for over 20 years.
Don’t you see what you’re doing is futile? You’ll never win this war. Why not reconsider your actions? And we know you didn’t participate in the genocide because you were in France at the time for aviation training. What are you fighting for? Are you afraid of facing justice?’
“He listened to me and replied, ‘General, let me tell you one thing. I will return to Rwanda only when there isn’t a single Tutsi left in that country. If there’s nothing else you wanted to tell me, let’s end this conversation here.’ From that moment, I never spoke to Ntawunguka again.”
The move comes as the security situation in the region continues to deteriorate due to the advancing M23 rebels and confrontations with the Congolese army and allied militias.
In a statement, the UN confirmed that the relocation affects administrative personnel and those whose tasks can be performed remotely. However, the organization emphasized that this decision will not impact its ongoing humanitarian efforts in North Kivu, particularly in providing food, medical aid, and shelter to vulnerable populations.
The relocation will be reassessed as the security situation continues to evolve.
There have been mounting fears as M23 seized the strategic town of Sake, which had previously served as the last stronghold for government forces ahead of Goma. The group’s territorial gains have raised alarms that Goma, a city home to around two million people, could soon fall under M23 control.
Goma had already been briefly occupied by the rebels in 2012, and now, anxiety is spreading among the displaced populations in the area.
Due to the ongoing instability multiple foreign embassies have issued advisories urging their citizens to evacuate from North Kivu.
M23, which is fighting for the interests of the Tutsi community in eastern Congo, has announced its intention to “liberate” the people of the region, accusing the government of long-standing persecution.
The rebel group has been vocal about its grievances with the Congolese government, accusing it of failing to uphold agreements related to the rights and safety of Rwandophones in eastern DRC.
The ongoing clashes have claimed the lives of at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers and left several others wounded in the past few days. Those killed were part of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the country.
The military governor of North Kivu Province, Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, is also among the recent casualties. M23 announced that Cirimwami was killed on Thursday after travelling to locations near Sake, where the rebels engaged in battle with the government army coalition.
