Fleeing Congolese match to Goma City
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DRC- The M23 Rebel group has publicly declared its intention to seize Goma, describing its actions as a liberation of the city in order to save it from destruction.

This bold announcement comes at the time when intense clashes continue in Sake Territory which is the last defensive position protecting Goma, as the Congolese and Regional Forces mounting a desperate effort to halt the rebel advance.

The communication official for M23, Lawrence Kanyuka told journalists yesterday evening stated that the AFC/M23 is on its way to liberate the people of Goma, and the residents must prepare to welcome the liberators and said that there is no need to fear anything because M23 is coming to bring them peace.

The Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC), in partnership with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) forces, are leading the defense in Sake where they have deployed heavy artillery, helicopters and special forces to counter M23’s rebel advance.

It should be known that Southern African Development Community (SADC) troops, including the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), are playing a critical role in supporting the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) to prevent the rebels from breaching the last line of defense before Goma.

Sake remains the focal point of the conflict, and the stakes are high, as this is the final barrier to protect Goma and the outcome of the battle for Sake is expected to have significant implications not only for the security of Goma but also for the wider Great Lakes region.

It is now reported that in a show of support, South Africa’s Defence Minister Angie Motshekga arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo  to assess the situation and engage with South African National Defence Force personnel deployed under the SADC mission.

South Africa’s Defence forces emphasized their commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of the SADC forces’ role in protecting Goma City and supporting the Congolese government.

South Africa Minister’s visit to Kinshasa has also highlighted growing concerns that M23’s actions could ignite a broader regional conflict, potentially involving multiple neighboring countries, including Burundi and Rwanda and the fall of Goma, a key economic and humanitarian hub, would mark a significant escalation in the conflict and could destabilize the region.

The Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing M23, a claim the Paul Kagame government in Kigali denies, but Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi Thilombo has called on the international community to take decisive action, including imposing sanctions on Rwanda and providing greater support to the Congolese military and its allies.

Meanwhile heavy clashes yesterday erupted in Sake as M23 rebels launch an all-out assault on what is widely seen as the last defensive stronghold before Goma City, the capital of North Kivu Province.

Althougg the Congolese Forces are battling to prevent the rebel advance toward the strategic city of Goma,  reports from the front lines indicate an increasingly dire situation and Sake, located just 20 kilometers from Goma is increasingly becoming the focal point of intense fighting as the Congolese army (FARDC) struggles to repel the M23 insurgents who allegedly supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF).

The fall of Sake likely to happen in few hours, would leave Goma City largely exposed, raising fears of a potential takeover by the rebels as shelling and heavy gunfire can be heard in and around Sake as the M23 mounts a concerted offensive and military source confirmed that the rebels are employing significant firepower and attempting to overwhelm the Congolese defenses.

While speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior military official said that the situation is critical and Sake Town is the final barrier between the rebels and Goma City and if Sake it is taken then Goma is next.

The fighting has forced thousands of civilians to flee Sake town as many of them are seen trekking along the roads toward Goma City with whatever belongings they can carry seeking refuge, while those remaining in Sake describe harrowing conditions.

A resident fleeing Sake Town with her children, Clestine Byamungu, said that if the sound of gunfire doesn’t stop and the Army fail to hold them back, they have no alternative but to run for their lives, while in Goma, tension is mounting as the city prepares for the possibility of a direct assault.

The Democratic Republic of Congo Military Governor of North Kivu, Major General Peter Cirimwami Nkuba visited the front lines in Mubambiro and urged calm among the population, however, fear is growing as the sounds of battle inch closer.

Nkuba said, “We are committed to defending our city and our people, but we need their support in this difficult time and the people of Goma must remain strong”

The United Nations has disclosed that with Sake under siege, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly as thousands more displaced civilians are arriving in Goma, placing enormous strain on already overwhelmed aid agencies.

The Democratic Republic of Congo government has asked the international community to intervene with sanctions against Rwanda and direct support for Congolese forces and as the battle for Sake intensifies, it has become the symbolic and strategic centerpiece in the fight for Goma.

For the Congolese Army FARDC, holding Sake is crucial to preventing the M23 from gaining a foothold in Goma while for the M23 rebels, capturing Sake would be a decisive step toward consolidating control over North Kivu.

Additional Reporting from Associated Press