Intense combat nears eastern DR Congo, UN plans urgent meeting
Intense combat between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed fighters has brought conflict dangerously close to the major city of Goma. As tensions escalate, both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have withdrawn their diplomats from each other's capitals, signaling a severe diplomatic rift. This escalation comes amid preparations by the UN Security Council for an emergency meeting to address the situation.
The eastern provinces of North and South Kivu in the DRC have been conflict zones for decades, with the M23 group, backed by Rwanda, emerging as a dominant force in recent years. Since 2021, M23 has captured significant territories, causing large-scale displacements and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The breakdown of peace talks between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC's Félix Tshisekedi further fueled tensions, leading to M23's rapid advance towards Goma. This city, a crucial hub with over a million residents, now echoes with the sounds of heavy detonations, underscoring the urgency of international intervention.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Intense combat between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed fighters has brought conflict dangerously close to the major city of Goma. As tensions escalate, both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have withdrawn their diplomats from each other's capitals, signaling a severe diplomatic rift. This escalation comes amid preparations by the UN Security Council for an emergency meeting to address the situation.
The eastern provinces of North and South Kivu in the DRC have been conflict zones for decades, with the M23 group, backed by Rwanda, emerging as a dominant force in recent years. Since 2021, M23 has captured significant territories, causing large-scale displacements and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The breakdown of peace talks between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC's Félix Tshisekedi further fueled tensions, leading to M23's rapid advance towards Goma. This city, a crucial hub with over a million residents, now echoes with the sounds of heavy detonations, underscoring the urgency of international intervention.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
