The March 23 Movement rebels seized Goma on Monday, sparking fury across the Democratic Republic of Congo as protesters stormed foreign embassies in Kinshasa and doctors warned of a possible Ebola outbreak in the captured city.
As hospitals overflew with wounded civilians who risked sniper fire to seek treatment, the fighting has forced over 400,000 people from their homes since January.
Diplomatic Crisis Erupts amid Anti-Western Protests
In the streets of Congo, demonstrators burned tyres and shouted slogans against foreign powers.
In the eastern city of Bukavu, thousands marched against what they see as Rwanda’s plan to take the entire Kivu region. Protestors chanted “il n’y a pas de RDC sans l’Est” – there is no Congo without the East.
In Kinshasa, angry crowds set fire to the French embassy on Tuesday before police scattered them with tear gas. The protesters targeted embassies of Western countries and Rwanda, accusing them of backing the rebels. Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya told state TV the government had brought the situation under control.
Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the assault on Kenya’s embassy “a grave violation of international law.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the embassy fire was extinguished quickly.
Congo has recalled its diplomats from Rwanda and demanded Kigali close its embassy in Kinshasa within 48 hours. Kenya’s President William Ruto later announced peace talks between Congolese and Rwandan leaders for Wednesday. But hope remains thin after similar talks failed in December.
Health and Humanitarian Disaster Threatens Goma
For Goma’s million residents, many already displaced by earlier fighting, M23’s arrival brings fresh dangers.
Local churches have suspended services, asking worshippers to pray at home. The city houses aid groups serving eastern Congo’s 4.6 million displaced people. Their work now hangs in doubt as rebels patrol the streets and diplomatic missions evacuate their staff.
To make matters worse, the Red Cross warned that Goma’s biomedical lab, which houses Ebola virus samples, faces dangerous power cuts. The lab needs constant electricity to prevent any chance of virus release. Past Ebola outbreaks in the region have killed thousands, with death rates reaching 90% without immediate treatment.
The World Health Organisation has raised additional concerns about cholera outbreaks, as displaced people lack clean water and proper sanitation. Hospitals struggle to treat hundreds of casualties while fighting continues in the streets.
The toll on peacekeepers mounts. Seventeen UN personnel died in recent battles, including three South African soldiers killed during Monday’s fight for Goma’s airport. The United Nations mission, with nearly 11,000 peacekeepers in eastern Congo, has paused its planned withdrawal due to deteriorating security.
The Southern African Development Community has also extended its military mission in Congo. Both forces continue to support the Congolese army against M23’s advance.
West Accused of Emboldening Rwanda in Eastern Congo
UN peacekeepers confirmed Rwandan troops fight alongside M23 in Goma, though determining exact numbers remains difficult. The rebels already control the region’s coltan mines, collecting $800,000 monthly in mining taxes.
The M23 group emerged in 2012, claiming to defend Tutsi interests against Hutu militias such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. These Hutu fighters fled Rwanda after taking part in the 1994 genocide that killed nearly one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Despite UN experts documenting Rwanda’s deployment of 4,000 troops and advanced weapons in Congo, Western countries have not imposed sanctions. The U.S., Britain, and France condemned Rwanda’s actions at Sunday’s UN Security Council meeting but stopped short of punitive measures.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has built his country into a valued Western partner, making it hard to generate the international pressure that helped end M23’s previous rebellion a decade ago.
Rwanda’s control over eastern Congo relies on its military expertise and mineral profits. The country manages M23’s operations directly, commanding targeted missions and handling sophisticated weapons.
Through M23’s control of mining regions, Rwanda has secured a monopoly on coltan exports from the area. This combination of military power and resource control allows Rwanda to maintain its grip, despite Congo’s larger size and population.
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