Goma, DRC – April 13, 2025 – The M23 rebel group has called for the immediate withdrawal of Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following overnight clashes in Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu.
In a statement issued Saturday, April 12, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) – a coalition that includes the M23 rebels – accused SADC troops of launching coordinated military operations in alliance with the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), the Rwandan Hutu militia FDLR, and local armed groups known as Wazalendo.
The gunfire exchange reportedly erupted around 10 p.m. on Friday, April 11, in the Lac Vert and Keshero neighborhoods. It marked the first major confrontation since M23 rebels seized control of Goma in late January.
AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka condemned the attacks, warning that they pose a serious risk to civilian safety and violate previous agreements made with the regional bloc.
“These attacks threaten the stability and safety of civilians,” said Kanyuka. “They violate the existing SADC agreements and consequently delay the rehabilitation of Goma airport.”
The rebel alliance, which had signed a withdrawal deal with SADC forces on March 28, now says it is compelled to demand not only the exit of SADC troops but also the surrender of FARDC soldiers sheltering within UN peacekeeping bases operated by MONUSCO.
Kanyuka accused the Congolese government of undermining peace efforts, saying the latest offensive had been “decisively repelled.” He warned that continued aggression may force the group to reconsider its previously restrained posture.
“Despite our restraint in response to these persistent criminal acts, the AFC/M23 finds itself compelled to reconsider its position in order to prioritize the safety of the Congolese population and [SADC] forces present in liberated areas,” he said.
The rebel movement claims to be fighting against tribalism, corruption, and genocidal violence, particularly targeting the Congolese Tutsi community. They allege that these communities are under threat from the FDLR, a UN-sanctioned militia founded in 2000 by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Kanyuka reaffirmed that the AFC/M23 would continue to ensure civilian protection in the areas under its control, “whatever the cost.”
The situation in eastern DRC remains volatile, with renewed tensions raising concerns about the fragile regional peace process and the safety of civilians in conflict zones.
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