As rebel forces, including the M23, continue their advance through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), their leader Corneille Nangaa has pledged to push further, declaring their ultimate goal is to topple President Felix Tshisekedi’s government and reach the capital, Kinshasa.
Nangaa’s statement follows the capture of Goma, the largest city in the mineral-rich eastern region, intensifying fears of a full-scale offensive.
The fighting, which has already displaced approximately 500,000 people, is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
UN officials warn that the conflict could worsen if the violence continues. Amid this turmoil, the rebels, reportedly supported by Rwanda, have moved towards Bukavu, the second-largest city in the region, despite international calls for a ceasefire.
In his televised address after the fall of Goma, President Tshisekedi vowed a vigorous and coordinated response to reclaim lost territory, assuring the public that the DRC would not bow to foreign-backed rebels.
“We will fight and we will triumph, Tshisekedi declared, reinforcing his commitment to defending the nation’s sovereignty.
Nangaa, however, remains defiant, asserting that the rebels would not retreat and are now administering Goma, where services such as electricity and water have been cut off due to the ongoing violence.
The rebel leader emphasized that the “march of liberation” would continue towards Kinshasa, despite logistical challenges. While such a long-distance advance seems unlikely given the DRC’s vast size, it is a reminder of Rwanda-backed forces previous success in 1997, when they helped overthrow then-President Mobutu Sese Seko.
The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim the Rwandan government has denied, despite mounting international evidence of its involvement.
Rwanda, which shares ethnic ties with the M23 leadership, contends that it is defending the rights of Tutsis in the DRC, while accusing Tshisekedi’s government of harboring Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.
