At a briefing where they sought to assert their control over the eastern city of Goma and surrounding territory in the neighboring South Kivu province, the M23 rebels said they would be open to dialogue with the government, also proposed by the east African regional bloc of which Rwanda is a member. Their motive, however, is to gain political power, Corneille Nangaa, one of the political leaders of M23, said during the briefing. He did not indicate how the rebels planned to advance on the capital, more than 1, kilometers nearly 1, miles away.
Rwanda's leader, Paul Kagame said he spoke with Angola's President Joao Lourenco β a mediator in the conflict who also met with Congo's leader a day earlier β and both leaders committed to working with other African countries to resolve the hostilities. The M23 rebels are backed by some 4, troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U. Goma remained largely without electricity and water on Thursday, as the bodies of several alleged government soldiers lay in the streets, horrifying residents, including children.
M23 rebels escorted some 2, government soldiers and police officers β who they said surrendered β to an undisclosed location, some of them singing anti-Tshisekedi songs.
The U. Humanitarian Coordinator in Congo said basic services are largely paralyzed in Goma, a humanitarian hub critical for more than 6 million people displaced by the conflict. Footage from Goma showed residents carrying food items and goods looted from stores and warehouses in the city.
The Congolese military has been weakened after hundreds of foreign military contractors withdrew and handed over their arms to the rebels. Residents of Goma described seeing soldiers changing into civilian clothing and dropping their guns as they crossed over the border to Rwanda or took shelter in foreign peacekeeping bases.
