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| Goma trembles before Congo rebel advance UN seems powerless to stop | Goma trembles before Congo rebel advance UN seems powerless to stop |
| (4 months later) | |
| Rebels with the alleged backing of Rwanda threaten to invade the biggest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, with UN peacekeepers appearing powerless to stop them. | Rebels with the alleged backing of Rwanda threaten to invade the biggest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, with UN peacekeepers appearing powerless to stop them. |
| After several days of heavy fighting, the M23 militia group, which the UN accuses of human rights abuses and recruiting child solders, appeared to be on the brink of taking Goma after resistance from the Congolese army crumbled. | After several days of heavy fighting, the M23 militia group, which the UN accuses of human rights abuses and recruiting child solders, appeared to be on the brink of taking Goma after resistance from the Congolese army crumbled. |
| With regional tensions growing, neighbouring Rwanda accused Congolese soldiers of firing heavy weapons into its territory, wounding three civilians. | With regional tensions growing, neighbouring Rwanda accused Congolese soldiers of firing heavy weapons into its territory, wounding three civilians. |
| Rwanda reported that one of the three civilians hit had died in hospital. Brigadier general Joseph Nzabamwita, a Rwandan army spokesman, said the Congolese army "has deliberately this evening bombed Rwanda, using T55 tank and mortar bombs" as well as 37.5mm anti-aircraft fire. | Rwanda reported that one of the three civilians hit had died in hospital. Brigadier general Joseph Nzabamwita, a Rwandan army spokesman, said the Congolese army "has deliberately this evening bombed Rwanda, using T55 tank and mortar bombs" as well as 37.5mm anti-aircraft fire. |
| He added: "Rwanda is exercising restraint as of now. We are concentrating on evacuating the affected population. We continue to assess the situation." | He added: "Rwanda is exercising restraint as of now. We are concentrating on evacuating the affected population. We continue to assess the situation." |
| Congo denied the claim, saying Rwanda was firing into its own territory to justify an intervention. | Congo denied the claim, saying Rwanda was firing into its own territory to justify an intervention. |
| On Monday night, tank and artillery fire echoed above the deserted streets of Goma as terrified civilians took shelter and fears grew of a rebel advance.. | On Monday night, tank and artillery fire echoed above the deserted streets of Goma as terrified civilians took shelter and fears grew of a rebel advance.. |
| "For sure, Goma is going to fall because they have infiltrators in town and they are strong enough," said Sifa Mastaki, a 50-year-old businesswoman. "Everyone is afraid. We are not sure about [whether] the negotiations will do something or not. If they don't find a resolution, for sure the town will fall." | "For sure, Goma is going to fall because they have infiltrators in town and they are strong enough," said Sifa Mastaki, a 50-year-old businesswoman. "Everyone is afraid. We are not sure about [whether] the negotiations will do something or not. If they don't find a resolution, for sure the town will fall." |
| She added: "If the M23 come, they will destroy our town and loot or rape. We can't do business any more because of them. We don't really know why they are fighting. What do they want? The UN can stop them or stop this war but the problem is that UN is watching quietly the M23 taking over the town." | She added: "If the M23 come, they will destroy our town and loot or rape. We can't do business any more because of them. We don't really know why they are fighting. What do they want? The UN can stop them or stop this war but the problem is that UN is watching quietly the M23 taking over the town." |
| Bora Muhim, a 38-year-old student, said: "I will run away because I am afraid of the M23. I can never agree with them. They loot, rape and kill. Everybody is afraid. The UN must help Congolese citizens and also help the Congolese army so we can get peace." | Bora Muhim, a 38-year-old student, said: "I will run away because I am afraid of the M23. I can never agree with them. They loot, rape and kill. Everybody is afraid. The UN must help Congolese citizens and also help the Congolese army so we can get peace." |
| Jeremi Kubuya, 32 and unemployed, said: "The threat is real. How will we survive in a such situation? I can never be on the side of rebels. A rebel can kill, loot and rape." | Jeremi Kubuya, 32 and unemployed, said: "The threat is real. How will we survive in a such situation? I can never be on the side of rebels. A rebel can kill, loot and rape." |
| A humanitarian crisis is already unfolding. Some 50,000 people are thought to have fled ahead of the latest rebel advance. One of the region's biggest camps for people already forced from their homes, at Kibati, 10 miles north of Goma, is said to be empty. The 35,000 people who were living there were streaming into Goma or other nearby camps. | A humanitarian crisis is already unfolding. Some 50,000 people are thought to have fled ahead of the latest rebel advance. One of the region's biggest camps for people already forced from their homes, at Kibati, 10 miles north of Goma, is said to be empty. The 35,000 people who were living there were streaming into Goma or other nearby camps. |
| Tariq Rieble, Oxfam's humanitarian response manager, said: "The situation is extremely worrying. Many people fleeing have been displaced multiple times and have very little to fall back on with few possessions, little money, and no way of buying food. There are very limited resources here." | Tariq Rieble, Oxfam's humanitarian response manager, said: "The situation is extremely worrying. Many people fleeing have been displaced multiple times and have very little to fall back on with few possessions, little money, and no way of buying food. There are very limited resources here." |
| Thomas D'Aquin Muiti, president of a local non-governmental organisation in North Kivu province, told Reuters: "I think everyone in the town is sceptical of M23 ... The town is emptying ... If the international community allows M23 to take Goma, it'll be a humanitarian catastrophe." | Thomas D'Aquin Muiti, president of a local non-governmental organisation in North Kivu province, told Reuters: "I think everyone in the town is sceptical of M23 ... The town is emptying ... If the international community allows M23 to take Goma, it'll be a humanitarian catastrophe." |
| Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, sits at the Rwandan border on the north shore of Lake Kivu, in the foothills of volcanoes. It is home to the world's biggest peacekeeping mission, including about 1,400 troops in and around Goma. | Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, sits at the Rwandan border on the north shore of Lake Kivu, in the foothills of volcanoes. It is home to the world's biggest peacekeeping mission, including about 1,400 troops in and around Goma. |
| The UN said its peacekeepers fought the advancing rebels throughout Sunday, using rockets, cannon rounds and helicopter gunships, but its mandate does not go beyond supporting the Congolese army. "Goma is under serious threat," said Madnodje Mounoubai, the UN mission spokesman. "We are not going to engage the M23 directly. Our mandate is to support the national army." | The UN said its peacekeepers fought the advancing rebels throughout Sunday, using rockets, cannon rounds and helicopter gunships, but its mandate does not go beyond supporting the Congolese army. "Goma is under serious threat," said Madnodje Mounoubai, the UN mission spokesman. "We are not going to engage the M23 directly. Our mandate is to support the national army." |
| Asked if he feared for his own safety, Mounoubai replied: "We don't know the intention of the M23. We hope they're not going to attack our camp." | Asked if he feared for his own safety, Mounoubai replied: "We don't know the intention of the M23. We hope they're not going to attack our camp." |
| More than 150 rebels and two soldiers have been killed since intense fighting broke out last week. On Sunday afternoon, when the M23 halted their rapid advance, their checkpoint was just 100 yards from a Congolese government checkpoint on the edge of Goma. | More than 150 rebels and two soldiers have been killed since intense fighting broke out last week. On Sunday afternoon, when the M23 halted their rapid advance, their checkpoint was just 100 yards from a Congolese government checkpoint on the edge of Goma. |
| On Monday morning the M23 said they would pull back and give the government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet a long list of demands, including a declaration on state TV and radio announcing the start of negotiations. | On Monday morning the M23 said they would pull back and give the government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet a long list of demands, including a declaration on state TV and radio announcing the start of negotiations. |
| But later the militia resumed mortar and machine-gun fire at a village two miles outside Goma, sending civilians, including young children, running for safety. | But later the militia resumed mortar and machine-gun fire at a village two miles outside Goma, sending civilians, including young children, running for safety. |
| Colonel Vianney Kazarama, an M23 spokesman, blamed Congo for the renewed hostilities and again vowed to take Goma. "The army provoked us," he said. "They have fired on our men. And we have the right to defend ourselves. We are going to fight until our last breath. We are going to take Goma tonight." | Colonel Vianney Kazarama, an M23 spokesman, blamed Congo for the renewed hostilities and again vowed to take Goma. "The army provoked us," he said. "They have fired on our men. And we have the right to defend ourselves. We are going to fight until our last breath. We are going to take Goma tonight." |
| Lambert Mende, a spokesman for the Congolese government, said negotiations were out of the question, and Congo refused to give in to the "blackmail" of a Rwandan-backed group. "We will fight in Kinshasa if we have to," he told the BBC. | Lambert Mende, a spokesman for the Congolese government, said negotiations were out of the question, and Congo refused to give in to the "blackmail" of a Rwandan-backed group. "We will fight in Kinshasa if we have to," he told the BBC. |
| A report by the UN's group of experts says the M23 is receiving military and financial support from Rwanda, which vehemently denies the charge. On Saturday, the UN's peacekeeping chief, Hervé Ladsous, said the M23 had received sophisticated equipment, including night-vision capacity and 120mm mortars. The M23 is now believed to consist of 2,500 to 3,000 men. | A report by the UN's group of experts says the M23 is receiving military and financial support from Rwanda, which vehemently denies the charge. On Saturday, the UN's peacekeeping chief, Hervé Ladsous, said the M23 had received sophisticated equipment, including night-vision capacity and 120mm mortars. The M23 is now believed to consist of 2,500 to 3,000 men. |
| Goma may not be its ultimate prize, however. Stephanie Wolters, a political analyst specialising in the Great Lakes region, said: "The reality is that it's difficult to keep Goma. You have to maintain control over a big city for a long time. There's no strategic advantage in it; it sucks up all your manpower. So it's not sensible for the M23 to go for it." | Goma may not be its ultimate prize, however. Stephanie Wolters, a political analyst specialising in the Great Lakes region, said: "The reality is that it's difficult to keep Goma. You have to maintain control over a big city for a long time. There's no strategic advantage in it; it sucks up all your manpower. So it's not sensible for the M23 to go for it." |
| M23 control would spell disaster for the residents of Goma, Wolters added. "It's a densely populated city, and the people are extremely vulnerable, many living in non-permanent structures. These people have every reason to be concerned. Any combat in the city would be chaotic, with more casualities than in a rural area. That's why nobody wants Goma to become a battlefield." | M23 control would spell disaster for the residents of Goma, Wolters added. "It's a densely populated city, and the people are extremely vulnerable, many living in non-permanent structures. These people have every reason to be concerned. Any combat in the city would be chaotic, with more casualities than in a rural area. That's why nobody wants Goma to become a battlefield." |
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