M23 Rebels Claim Control of Goma Amid Humanitarian Crisis

M23 rebels have claimed to have captured the key city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging Congolese troops to surrender to avoid bloodshed. The rebels have made swift territorial gains, causing mass panic and displacement among the local population, with over 400,000 people forced to flee since the start of 2025. Fighting has intensified, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 peacekeepers and foreign soldiers, and Goma's airport has been evacuated due to the escalating violence. The DRC government has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, leading to a severance of diplomatic ties, though Rwanda denies these allegations. UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from the DRC and for the M23 to cease its advance. The situation has raised fears of a broader regional conflict amid one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.