GOMA, DR Congo — Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was rocked overnight by intense fighting that left residents in fear and uncertainty.
Local sources confirm that heavy gunfire and sustained artillery fire began around 10 p.m. Friday, primarily affecting the western districts of Keshero and Lac-Vert. Explosions and automatic weapon fire could be heard for several hours, prompting many civilians to either flee the area or take shelter inside their homes.
By Saturday morning, a tense calm had returned, although authorities had yet to release any official casualty figures as of midday.
Conflict Background
According to reports from local media, the confrontation involved March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, who have occupied Goma since January 2025, and armed groups linked to the pro-government Wazalendo militias and the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC).
The Congolese National Radio and Television station broadcast a statement from the M23, in which the rebel group accused the FARDC-Wazalendo coalition of launching a “coordinated attack” on their defensive positions.
Since establishing control over Goma earlier this year, the M23 has set up a parallel administration, complicating governance and exacerbating tensions across North Kivu. Sporadic clashes have persisted, displacing nearly one million people, including an estimated 400,000 children, according to the United Nations.