M23 invades Goma

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The people of Goma urgently need your prayers!

You may have seen in the news over the few days that the civil conflict in the DR Congo has escalated dramatically.

In this year alone, the fighting has displaced over 235,000 people from their homes, and since Monday the M23 rebel forces have launched a new offensive and appear to be making a push towards capturing the capital city of Goma (where our Ministry Partners live and serve).

On Tuesday they seized control of the nearby town of Minova (which was one of the last remaining cities providing food for Goma) and we’ve just received news that this morning they took control of Sake (Goma’s nearest neighbouring city) and forced the Congolese Army to retreat into Goma. According to our Ministry Partners they could “easily enter Goma tomorrow”.             

Given the urgency of the situation and the desperate plight facing our Ministry Partners and the vulnerable people they serve; I’m sharing the update we received this morning from Pytchen (HEAL’s project coordinator) and asking you to lift them up in prayer as soon as you see this.

“I just want to give you some updates on the ground about the situation of the ongoing war which is approaching Goma town.

“Today, Thursday 23 January 2025, the city of Goma woke up with a strong and generalized panic, because the city of Sake, located about 25 km from Goma, was taken by the M23 rebels. The city of Sake was the last barrier to Goma. That was the frontline of fighting between the M23 and DRC Soldiers for many months now, on the south side of the city of Goma. Sake is located less than 10km from Mugunga (an internally displaced peoples camp where HEAL Africa run a school) and almost 5km from some camps of internally displaced people.

“The advance of the M23 rebels who took control of Sake city today has forced government soldiers to retreat towards Goma, on the only road that passes through Mugunga. The withdrawal of the military from the frontlines of Sake, and the detonations of heavy and light weapons that are felt as far as to the city of Goma and the bombs that are exploding in Mugunga communities have caused a general panic throughout Goma city and Mugunga quarter. Some of the camps of internal displaced people in Mugunga have emptied as the displaced persons also flee to Goma.

“It is these movements of soldiers with their military equipment and the multitude of displaced persons who leave Mugunga with their objects on their heads, fleeing to Goma, and with the detonations of bombs and weapons in Goma that make Goma plunge into a situation of uncertainty today. We do not know what will be tomorrow, because the way and the speed that the M3 rebels are progressing, they can easily enter Goma. We keep praying because Goma is now where all the soldiers and huge part of the displaced people from the IDPs camps of Nzulu, Bulengo and Lushagala are located.

“It is since Monday that the rebels launched their offensives and took several cities and villages, including Minova, which was the last city to provide Goma with some vegetable and food items. Minova went under M23 rebel’s control last Tuesday and the rebels took control of Sake, the closest city to Goma this morning.

“In Mugunga, students have not studied since Monday because the bombs dropped by the rebels are falling and exploding in the community, and some bombs even exploded in the displaced persons camps.

“Today, with the panic caused by the situation of displacements detailed above, all schools in Goma town have asked students to return home and stay at home until further notice. Meaning they will be at home until the security situation improves.

“At the office, we are asked to close at 3pm today and go to observe the situation at home.

“Up to the time I am writing this email (4pm), we are hearing bombs detonating from the frontline while we are in our office located in downtown Goma. This means that the frontline is moving more and more towards Goma.

“Some shops remained closed all day today, and the prices of items which were already high, have increased sharply further because of today’s situation. With the capture of this last strategic city of Sake, the road is wide open for the rebels to reach Mugunga and Goma.

“This is the update on today’s situation in Goma town, which is really critical. We do not know what can happen at any time.

“We keep praying and hope God is in control.”

Please join us and our partners in praying for:

  • The city of Goma and the over 2 million people who live there. Pray for God’s protection over the city.
  • The families in Mugunga camp where HEAL Africa run a school. Pray for safety and protection for them.
  • The deaf community at Ephphatha who are particularly vulnerable as they cannot hear the signs of danger and cannot hear radio reports and other key information.
  • The soldiers on both sides of the conflict pray that God would give them hearts of grace and mercy towards all the civilians they come across in this battle.
  • That God would provide food and water for all the people in Goma, especially now that all the supply routes into the city have been cut off.

And if you would like to give towards the emergency response work of our partners in the DR Congo click here.

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