Intense fighting between M23 rebels and government forces in Goma, a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has resulted in more than 900 deaths in the past two weeks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2,880 individuals have been injured and admitted to various health facilities in Goma since January 26.
The M23 group, which is reportedly supported by Rwandan troops, seized Goma’s airport last week as their fighters advanced through the city, the capital of North Kivu province. This offensive forced tens of thousands to flee their homes, and the rebels have since intensified their assault, gaining control over the city and setting up checkpoints that severely limit humanitarian access.
After taking Goma, the rebels pushed towards Bukavu, another major city in eastern DRC. While they had previously indicated plans to march towards Kinshasa, the national capital, M23 leaders recently denied intentions to capture Bukavu. “We have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. We remain committed to protecting civilians and maintaining our positions,” stated M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka.
In a shift, Rwanda-backed forces in eastern DRC announced a pause in their offensive for humanitarian reasons. On Tuesday, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) rebel coalition declared a unilateral ceasefire starting February 4, 2025, in response to the growing humanitarian crisis. The statement, shared on X (formerly Twitter), stated: “The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) declares a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, due to the crisis caused by the Kinshasa regime.”
However, there has been no immediate response from the DRC government, and it remains unclear whether the Congolese military will respect the ceasefire. In the past three years, several declared ceasefires and truces have been broken.
The International Committee of the Red Cross reported treating over 600 wounded since the start of January, with nearly half of the casualties being civilians, including women and children. The WHO has also warned of increased risks of disease outbreaks, such as mpox, cholera, and measles, as displaced populations face difficulties accessing medical care.
