In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the M23 rebel group on Saturday expelled thousands of individuals they claimed were Rwandan nationals illegally residing in the key regional city of Goma. The development has intensified tensions in the volatile North Kivu province, where violence and humanitarian challenges have plagued communities for decades.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma disclosed that the group had expelled a total of 181 individuals identified as Rwandan citizens who were unlawfully present in Goma. According to Ngoma, the action was part of a broader initiative to rid areas under M23 control of what he described as “foreign infiltrators” posing a security risk.
“These people entered the country illegally and have been living in Goma with forged documents,” Ngoma claimed. “They have no legal status, and our responsibility is to protect the integrity of our territory.”
Alongside the 181 adults, witnesses reported that thousands of women and children, believed to be family members of the deportees, were also rounded up and forced out. Eyewitness accounts say the group was transported in trucks out of the city while their identification documents—allegedly issued by Congolese authorities—were seized and burned.
“They gathered everyone at once, loaded them into trucks, and burned their ID cards,” one local resident who witnessed the scene told Africalivenews. “There was panic, especially among the children and elderly.”
The M23 rebels justified the destruction of the documents, labeling them as counterfeit. “These were fake documents issued under questionable circumstances. We cannot allow criminals and infiltrators to destabilize our communities,” said Ngoma.
The majority of those expelled were reportedly from the Karenga region in North Kivu, an area that had previously been a stronghold of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group composed primarily of Rwandan Hutu rebels. The FDLR has long been accused of committing atrocities in both Congo and Rwanda and remains at the center of regional security concerns.
Accusations and counter-accusations have long plagued relations between Rwanda and the DRC. Both Kigali and the M23 rebels have accused the Congolese government of providing support to the FDLR, a claim Kinshasa has repeatedly denied. The Congolese government, in turn, alleges that Rwanda backs the M23 rebels—a charge supported by a growing body of evidence presented by United Nations experts.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed that 360 individuals were repatriated to Rwanda during the mass expulsion. “We are closely monitoring the situation and working to ensure that basic humanitarian standards are upheld,” said Eujin Byun, a UNHCR spokesperson.
Many of the expelled individuals had been living in a displacement camp in Sake, a town just a few kilometers from Goma. The camp had become a temporary home for families fleeing previous waves of violence in the region.
“They were living in desperate conditions, many waiting for a chance to regularize their stay or be repatriated safely. Now, they’ve been uprooted again,” said a local humanitarian worker who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The latest development underscores the worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo, a region long devastated by conflict over mineral resources, ethnic tensions, and foreign interference. The resurgence of M23—believed to be receiving logistical and military support from approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, according to a recent UN report—has further destabilized the area.
“Eastern Congo is at a tipping point,” said a regional analyst based in Nairobi. “The M23’s growing control, coupled with state weakness and international finger-pointing, is making life unbearable for civilians caught in the middle.”
In recent months, M23 has made significant territorial gains across North Kivu, consolidating its grip over strategic locations including parts of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo territories. The Congolese national army, FARDC, has struggled to mount an effective counteroffensive despite support from regional and international partners.
The humanitarian consequences of the conflict have been severe. More than 1.5 million people have been displaced since the resurgence of M23 in late 2021, according to humanitarian agencies. Camps around Goma and neighboring towns are overflowing, with limited access to clean water, food, and medical care.
Calls for international intervention and peace negotiations are growing louder. However, with trust between Kinshasa and Kigali at an all-time low, prospects for a diplomatic solution remain uncertain.
“We urge all parties to prioritize dialogue over force,” said a joint statement by several NGOs operating in the region. “The human cost of this conflict is too high. Civilians are paying the ultimate price.”
As of now, the Congolese government has not issued an official response to the latest expulsions, though observers expect strong condemnation to follow. Meanwhile, displaced families remain stranded, with many unsure whether they will be allowed to return or be granted asylum elsewhere.
This latest wave of expulsions is a stark reminder of the fragile security situation in the Great Lakes region and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the root causes of the crisis.
