The M23 rebel group has announced that the ultimatum it issued to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has officially expired. According to a statement made by M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the group has demanded that FARDC immediately surrender all weapons to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Kanyuka stated that FARDC soldiers are required to report to Unity Stadium in Goma by 3:00 a.m. local time. Failure to comply will result in M23 advancing to seize control of the city.
“The deadline is over. FARDC must surrender all weapons to MONUSCO and assemble at Unity Stadium by the given time. If not, we will have no choice but to proceed with our plans to secure Goma,” Kanyuka warned in an official address.
The ultimatum has heightened tensions in Goma, a city that has previously witnessed violence and instability due to the ongoing conflict between FARDC and M23. Residents are bracing for potential clashes, with many fleeing the area in search of safety.
Local civil society organizations have called for restraint from both sides and urged international mediators to intervene immediately to prevent further bloodshed.
MONUSCO, which has faced criticism in recent months over its effectiveness in stabilizing the eastern DRC, now finds itself at the center of the standoff. The mission has yet to release an official response to the M23’s demands.
The M23 rebel group has been active in the eastern regions of the DRC since its resurgence in late 2021. The group accuses the Congolese government of failing to uphold previous peace agreements and has sought control of strategic territories in North Kivu Province.
The international community, including the African Union and United Nations, has expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis. Efforts to broker a peaceful resolution have so far been unsuccessful.
As the 3:00 a.m. deadline approaches, the fate of Goma hangs in the balance. The world watches anxiously, hoping for a peaceful resolution to avert further suffering in a region already scarred by years of conflict.
