Rebel group’s advance has had a devastating toll on the civilian population, UN secretary general says. António Guterres has voiced alarm over the M23 rebel group’s advance towards eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s largest city in a renewed insurgency that has displaced more than 178,000 people in the past two weeks.
In a statement though his spokesperson, the United Nations secretary general said M23’s advance had had a devastating toll on the civilian population and heightened the risk of a broader regional war. “The secretary general calls on the M23 to immediately cease its offensive,” the statement said.
M23 has been advancing rapidly in eastern DRC in the past few weeks, surrounding Goma as it battles the Congolese army and tries to seize the city, the provincial capital of North Kivu province. Earlier this month, the rebels captured Minova, Katale and Masisi towns. On Tuesday, the rebels took control of Minova town, a vital trade hub for Goma that is about 30 miles from the city. And two days later, it captured Sake town, about 15 miles from Goma.
The advance has caused panic in eastern DRC, with bombs being heard going off in Goma’s distant outskirts and hundreds of wounded civilians brought in to the main hospital from the area of the fighting on Thursday. Thousands of displaced people reached the outskirts of Goma as they fled the rebel advance.
