Congo Soldiers Surrender to Rwanda as UN Staff and Civilians Flee Goma After M23 Rebels Seize City
At least 10 prisoners were killed in a fire during a mass escape from Goma’s Munzene central prison on Monday morning, as around 4,400 inmates fled after M23 rebels captured the key city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
UN-backed Radio Okapi reported the tragic deaths, while footage from Rwanda Broadcasting Agency showed Congolese troops surrendering their weapons to Rwandan security officers after crossing into Rwanda’s Rubavu district.
The M23 rebels, accused of being backed by Rwanda, intensified their offensive in eastern Congo, forcing hundreds of Congolese civilians, UN staff, and troops to flee to neighboring Rwanda. The situation escalated as sporadic gunfire erupted in Goma, with businesses closing and some residents cheering as the rebels entered.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s President Kagame denied any involvement in supporting the rebels, despite widespread accusations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other global powers have called for Rwanda to withdraw its forces from Congo and cease supporting M23 militants, as the humanitarian crisis worsens with more than 400,000 people displaced this year.
