On Monday morning, several soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crossed into Rwanda seeking asylum after being defeated by the M23 Movement. This occurred shortly after M23 forces captured the city of Goma, forcing its local administration and the North Kivu provincial leadership to flee to Bukavu by boat.
While some government soldiers in Goma surrendered to M23 and handed over their weapons, others opted to flee into Rwanda.
The fleeing soldiers were received in Rubavu District, where Rwandan security officials conducted checks to ensure they were unarmed. However, over 20 soldiers crossed the border carrying firearms and ammunition, which they handed over to the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
One of the surrendered DRC soldiers explained that their decision to flee was due to repeated defeats at the hands of M23 fighters.
“I fled to Rwanda to escape the war. We fought many battles, but M23 is prevailing. We came here to surrender to the authorities,” he stated.
In addition to FARDC soldiers, United Nations personnel based in Goma also sought refuge in Rwanda. They are expected to be transported to Kigali, where they will be accommodated in various hotels.
M23, now in full control of Goma, has announced the closure of the city’s airspace. Furthermore, all activities on the Congolese side of Lake Kivu have been suspended.
The group has urged Goma residents to remain calm, assuring them that “the city’s liberation was successfully achieved, and order has been restored.”
