Sun Jan 26 18:05:14 UTC 2025: ## UN Chief Demands M23 Ceasefire, Rwandan Troop Withdrawal Amid Goma Crisis

**Goma, DRC –** UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a strong condemnation of the M23 rebel group’s offensive towards Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and withdrawal from occupied territories. He further called for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) from Congolese territory and an end to their support for the M23.

Thousands of civilians have fled Goma as M23 fighters advanced on the city on Sunday, prompting the closure of the airport and widespread panic. Gunfire and artillery exchanges were reported on the outskirts of the city.

The DRC government, backed by France and the United Kingdom, accuses Rwanda of directly supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Rwanda denies. At an emergency UN Security Council meeting, the DRC demanded sanctions against Rwanda, calling the incursion a “declaration of war.” Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner cited the crossing of Rwandan troops into DRC territory at multiple border posts as evidence of blatant aggression.

The escalating conflict comes after the deaths of several UN peacekeepers this week. Three UN peacekeepers from Uruguay and South Africa were killed, alongside seven South African and three Malawian soldiers from separate missions. These casualties prompted the emergency Security Council meeting, a day earlier than scheduled.

The M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group, has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, raising concerns of a regional conflict. Their current advances mark the largest amount of Congolese territory they’ve controlled in their three-year conflict. The DRC has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda in response to the offensive. The situation in eastern Congo remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation.

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