Goma in the Crosshairs of the M23 Rebellion

Recent military activities around Goma have been marked by intense clashes. For the past few days, fighting has been reported in several localities in the Masisi territory. M23 (Mouvement du 23-Mars) elements have clashed with FARDC/WAZALENDO in central Masisi, about 35 km northwest of the Sake base, in the locality of Sake. On January 20, 2025, reports revealed these clashes, although the effects have not been communicated.

Clashes also occurred in several villages on January 20, 2025, notably in Bweremana, Bitonga, Bishange, and Kalungu, located in the southern part of the locality of Sake, Masisi territory. In Kimoka, on the Busangara hill near Sake, M23/RDF fought against FARDC/VDP. Two mortar shells fired by M23 exploded near the Lushagala IDP camp, causing no casualties.

The FARDC retaliated by firing mortar shells at M23 positions, while M23 counterattacked by firing two mortar shells at the Mubambiro camp, 1 km north of Sake, and at Kimoka, 4 km northwest of Sake. MONUSCO troops observed air defense exercises, with reports of 28 mortar shells fired.

The FARDC resumed heavy artillery fire at M23 positions at Trois Antennes, near Kihuli, 4 km west of Sake, at Kimoka, 3 km northwest of Sake, and at Vunano, 3 km southwest of Sake. In response, M23 fired several mortar shells, two of which landed in the Birere1 neighborhood of Sake, damaging the 8th CEPAC church.