The group's political spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, confirmed the takeover in the early hours of January 27, 2025.
'We urge the residents of Goma to remain calm. The liberation of the city has been successfully carried out, and the situation is under control,' Kanyuka stated.
As M23 fighters moved into the city, Kanyuka called on DRC soldiers to surrender their weapons to United Nations peacekeeping forces under MONUSCO.
He also instructed them to gather at Goma's Stade de l'Unité before 3 a.m., warning that after the deadline, the city would be fully under M23's control.
Uruguayan peacekeepers with the UN mission reported that many DRC soldiers began fleeing M23 advances late last night.
M23 has also temporarily suspended activities on Lake Kivu and Lake Albert, pending further announcements.
The group's capture of Goma followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued to DRC forces, demanding they lay down their arms to avoid turning the city into a battlefield.
This ultimatum came after several days of intense fighting around Sake and the outskirts of Goma, which began on January 23.
Despite assistance from UN forces and the Southern African Development Community (SAMIDRC), the DRC military was eventually overpowered, forcing the withdrawal of allied troops and paving the way for M23 to seize control of the city.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/m23-confirms-control-over-goma
