The residents of the capital of North Kivu province, which fell into the hands of the M23 rebel group, backed by the Rwandan army, have been anxiously rediscovering the state of their town under rebel control.

Rwandan forces and the abusive M23 armed group should urgently ensure access to and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hundreds of protestors in the Himbi neighbourhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, on Friday, January 31, called for the removal of Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi as well as the exit of troops from Burundi and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from their country.

A shifting political calculus by sponsors of the M23 rebel group risk triggering another war in the Great Lakes Region, underscoring the importance of African mediators and global partners acting quickly to stem the fighting.

The security situation in the city of Goma is deteriorating, and journalists can no longer report, the media has been forced into silence, there is no stable access to electricity or the internet. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urgently alerting the international community to this crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and calling on the parties involved in conflict to respect and protect the public’s right to information.

Kenyan President William Ruto, the East African Community (EAC) chair, convened a virtual summit on 29 January to discuss the worsening security situation – which Tshisekedi skipped. In his absence, the summit “strongly urged” him to engage directly in talks with the M23.

Authorities say the governor of eastern Congo’s North Kivu province has died from injuries sustained in fighting on the front line as M23 rebels close in on Goma.

Press Release - An influx of wounded people is arriving at Kyeshero hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in the hospital are treating people through the armed clashes and insecurity that have hit the city in recent days.

ISLAMABAD: Around 150 Pakistani nationals were stranded in violence-hit Goma following the recent escalation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo , the Foreign Office confirmed

MSF teams are treating an influx of wounded people arriving at Kyeshero hospital in Goma, DRC, following the armed clashes and insecurity that have hit the city in recent days

SADC leaders pledged commitment at crisis talks in Zimbabwe as M23 rebels advance on Bukavu, just days after seizing Goma. The UN says at least 700 people have been killed since Sunday.