The head of Congolese diplomacy, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, raised her voice on Tuesday evening before the United Nations Security Council in response to the assault on the city of Goma, the main urban area in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This situation has raised serious concerns within the international community, and it is essential to understand the stakes and implications of this crisis.

The city of Goma, which has more than one million inhabitants and hosts 1 million displaced people, fell into the hands of rebels after several weeks of fighting and resistance from Congolese soldiers and allied Wazalendo militiamen. This situation has caused civilian displacements and an increased risk of conflicts, prompting the head of Congolese diplomacy to demand the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan troops and cessation of hostilities ; targeted sanctions, embargo on natural resources declared as Rwandan, revocation of Rwanda as a troop contributor to the United Nations, and full transparency on the transfer of arms to Rwanda1.

The Congolese Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, very determined, warns the UN Security Council; "If this council fails, the street will take charge and as you know very well, the street has no order or temperament. Indifference is no longer an option. This council cannot afford to be passive," declared Minister Thérèse KayiKwamba Wagner during the debate, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the growing frustration with the ineffectiveness of previous peace efforts, despite the presence of MONUSCO2.

Reactions of the International Community

The international community reacted strongly to the capture of Goma by the M23 and Rwandan forces. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on January 26, 2025, to address the crisis. ''During this meeting, the United States strongly condemned the hostilities of Rwanda and the M23, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congolese territory''. The American representative, Dorothy Shea, highlighted the dangers posed by the use of sophisticated weaponry by Rwanda for civilians and humanitarian operations. China and Russia also expressed their concerns, respectively emphasizing the respect for the sovereignty of the DRC and the ineffectiveness of a military solution.

International reactions have extended beyond the Security Council. France condemned the M23 offensive in South Kivu, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan forces and threatening new multilateral sanctions against those contributing to the conflict4. The United Kingdom also condemned the occupation of Goma and threatened to reconsider its financial aid to Rwanda5 . Belgium has asked the European Union to consider sanctions against Rwanda6. These reactions highlight the urgency of the situation and the need for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict and protect civilian populations.

In conclusion, the capture of the city of Goma by the M23 provoked a strong reaction from the Congolese government, which has taken a tougher stance against what it considers a blatant aggression by Rwanda. During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the head of Congolese diplomacy, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, expressed Kinshasa's anger and frustration, calling the incursion a "declaration of war" and demanding the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan forces. The Congolese government categorically rejected any form of negotiation with the M23, which it considers a terrorist group, and called for targeted sanctions against the Rwandan officials involved in the conflict.