M23 reportedly takes over national television station in DR Congo’s Goma

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rebels of the March 23 Movement (M23) took control of the facilities of the National Radio and Television (RTNC) in Goma. The city is under onslaught by the rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Yesterday morning, fighting intensified in various parts of the city, including areas near the border with Rwanda. Some sources reported that the rebels gained the upper hand after capturing Mount Goma.

The border between Rwanda and the DRC near Goma was closed yesterday morning. For several days, a significant number of Goma residents have crossed the border to seek refuge in Gisenyi, a Rwandan town bordering the DRC. The DRC government said that it continues to work to avoid the loss of human life in Goma. Meanwhile, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi called an inter-institutional meeting in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.

The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the



ongoing advances by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), demanding withdrawal immediately and urging all parties to abide by the ceasefire. In a press statement issued after an emergency meeting on the DRC, the council members condemned ongoing advances by the M23 in North Kivu province. It has also expressed serious concerns regarding imminent threats against Goma, the capital of North Kivu and a major regional hub.

 

They reiterated their full support to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and expressed their strong commitment to the safety and security of its peacekeepers. They stressed that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes. The council members reaffirmed their support for the ongoing mediation efforts between the two countries through the Luanda Process.