The March 23 Movement (M23), backed by Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) soldiers, on January 26, laid siege to Goma, a vital city of over a million people in the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since then, the region has been racked with chaos. This escalation is a stark reminder of the 2012 takeover.
We answer some burning questions about Goma’s current situation, the potential causes behind the conflict, and what can be expected going ahead. Artillery shelling and missile strikes have marked the fighting since early December 2024, with intensifying barrages in January 2025 paving the way for the latest offensive. M23 and RDF forces swiftly captured Goma’s airport and national radio station while engaging in fierce clashes with the Congolese military (FARDC) and allied armed groups in at least 13 neighborhoods.
Several other districts fell without resistance, underscoring the rebels’ military superiority. The violence has provoked outrage across the DRC, leading to widespread demonstrations. Protests in Kinshasa and other cities have turned violent, with enraged civilians targeting embassies perceived as sympathetic to the M23, setting several ablaze.
Despite the intensification of hostilities, the current offensive differs from the last major assault on Goma in 2012. Then, nearly half of M23’s documented violence involved direct attacks on civilians. In contrast, data indicates that since their resurgence in 2021, less than 15 per cent of their a.
