In a rapid and meticulously coordinated assault, Goma the economic and strategic heartbeat of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fell to M23 rebels and Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) in just three days, bypassing international peacekeepers and shattering the Congolese army’s last line of defense.
In the early morning hours of January 27, the once-bustling city of Goma echoed with the sound of artillery shells and drone strikes. By nightfall, the capital of North Kivu was under the control of M23/AFC forces and the Rwandan military, marking the most significant territorial shift in eastern DRC since the 2013 M23 occupation.
According to a newly leaked report by the United Nations Group of Experts on the DRC, the operation to capture Goma was carefully planned and executed with military precision.
The first wave of attacks began on January 23, targeting key strategic positions along the city’s defensive perimeter in areas such as Sake-Mubambiro, Kibati-Kibumba, and Rusayo. Despite resistance from Congolese forces (FARDC) and allied Wazalendo militias, the defenses quickly crumbled under the combined pressure of heavy artillery, air strikes, and well-coordinated infantry maneuvers.
By January 24, M23 released a public statement declaring its intention to “liberate” Goma, further cementing the inevitability of an all-out assault. The report details how RDF elite units entered Congolese territory through Kitchanga and Kibumba, while others crossed over from Gisenyi, Rwanda, converging with M23 fighters around Goma’s outskirts. Drones and artillery were reportedly launched from Rwandan territory in what UN experts describe as a “phased, multidirectional military campaign.”
Despite the presence of UN peacekeepers in the region, the rapid advance and firepower of the rebel coalition proved overwhelming. FARDC forces retreated in disarray, abandoning key installations including Goma International Airport, which now serves as a staging ground for rebel forces.
The fall of Goma underscores a dangerous escalation in the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo and has triggered alarm in the international community. It raises critical questions about regional stability, Rwanda’s role in the conflict, and the failure of peacekeeping operations to prevent the collapse of one of the DRC’s most vital cities.
As displaced residents flee to neighboring territories, and humanitarian agencies scramble to assess the fallout, all eyes now turn to Kinshasa and international stakeholders for a response that could determine whether this becomes an isolated takeover or the beginning of a larger regional war.
