UN alarm as M23 rebel group closes in on Goma in eastern DRC
GuardianJan 22
DRC: M23 Rebels Encircle Goma as Military Governor Dies in Combat
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Above: A young boy from Nzulo holds bullets he collected to hand over to soldiers near Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Jan. 22, 2025. Image copyright: Jospin Mwisha/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The M23 rebel group has made significant territorial advances in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), capturing strategic towns including Sake and Minova while surrounding Goma, a provincial capital of 2M people.
Major General Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu province, died from injuries sustained during fighting on the front line near Kasengezi, approximately 13 km (eight miles) from Goma, as confirmed by domestic and international government and sources.
The United Nations reports that more than 400K people have been displaced in 2025 alone, with thousands fleeing to Goma's outskirts as M23 rebels advance, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The M23 rebels should immediately halt their offensive and respect the DRC's sovereignty, as their recent actions have heightened the risk of regional war. With significant loss of life already reported and over 250K people displaced, ceasefire agreements must be honored to prevent further humanitarian crises and to support peace processes like the Luanda talks.
Establishment-critical narrative
Peace will never be achieved if the West is allowed to decide who the good actors and bad actors are. M23 is a freedom-fighting group that used to be called the AFDL in 1996, during which time they were fighting a Western-backed invasion from Uganda and Rwanda. Today's tragedies are the direct result of a decades-long war instigated by Western powers to steal resources. To this day, the US plays a far more influential role in the region than is widely known.
