DRC: Battle near Goma heats up

Elias Hakizimana Jan 20, 2025Jan 20, 2025 0 Comments

By The Inspirer.

Clashes continue on the outskirts of the Sake town area in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), within 30 kilometers of Goma city.

Residents of Sake town told Kigali Today that they could not sleep due to the heavy shelling exchanged between the fighting factions.

M23 fighters have advanced toward Sake after fully capturing and securing the Minova area heading toward South Kivu, with the fighting now shifting to the northern areas near Sake, which had been relatively calm for a while.

Many shells are falling in the Kimoka hills surrounding Sake, as M23 fighters move from Masisi and the Nyiragongo Volcano National Park, engaging the Congolese army (FARDC) stationed in Sake. Other M23 fighters are advancing toward Goma through Mubambiro.

The ongoing clashes have put Goma city in a precarious position, as the people of Sake, now under M23 control, have limited escape routes. These include fleeing to Rwanda, crossing the waters of Lake Kivu, or using Goma’s airport, although the latter is not reliable.

M23 fighters have been circling Goma for days, with fierce fighting taking place in the Nyiragongo Territory near the Nyiragongo Volcano, in areas such as Bibumba, Amabere y’Inkumi, Kanyamahoro, and Kirimanyoka.

Despite M23 fighters failing to enter Kibati and expel the FARDC forces there, the fighting has shifted westward to the Nyiragongo Volcano region, putting Goma city in even greater danger.

On the morning of Monday, January 20, 2025, heavy shelling was heard in Kamuronza, in the Masisi Territory near Sake, as FARDC forces attempted to push M23 fighters back from Sake, who had moved from Masisi and the Nyiragongo Volcano National Park, heading toward Shove and Bukarara.

In addition to taking Sake, M23 fighters have entered South Kivu Province in the Kalehe Territory, particularly in mineral-rich areas like Lumbishi.

M23 continues to overpower FARDC forces in various regions, while DRC President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi has stated that he cannot negotiate with the rebels, considering it a red-line issue. However, some civilians and soldiers are urging him to engage in talks to prevent further bloodshed and safeguard civilians.