DR Congo Begins Evacuation of Trapped Troops From UN Bases in Goma

A major evacuation operation is underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where hundreds of government troops and police officers have been stranded for months inside United Nations bases in Goma, a city overtaken by M23 rebels earlier this year.

According to a statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday, the organization is assisting in escorting a series of convoys carrying disarmed Congolese security forces and their families from Goma to the capital, Kinshasa.

The evacuation follows lengthy and delicate negotiations involving representatives from the UN, the Congolese government, and the M23 rebel group. These discussions were necessary due to the complex and volatile security situation in eastern DRC, where violence and instability have long plagued the region.

Sources within the UN and DRC security forces estimate that around 1,500 soldiers and police had sought refuge in the UN’s peacekeeping mission bases in Goma after M23 fighters captured the city in January. Fearing for their safety, the troops had remained confined in the bases ever since.

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A senior member of M23 told AFP that the group had refused a proposal to airlift the personnel out of Goma, citing the closure of the city’s airport, which has been shut down since January.

While the road evacuation has now begun, the journey is fraught with uncertainty and risk. One Congolese officer, speaking anonymously to AFP, expressed deep concern about traveling through rebel-held territory, saying he did not trust M23’s assurances of safe passage.

In its statement, the ICRC emphasized the complexity and danger of the operation, noting that all involved parties had pledged to guarantee the safety of those being evacuated.

“This operation is logistically challenging and sensitive. The ICRC is committed to a strictly neutral and humanitarian role to ensure the well-being of the evacuees,” the organization said.

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The situation in eastern DR Congo remains highly unstable. The resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which has advanced across large swathes of territory in recent months, has led to widespread displacement and heightened tensions.

International observers have repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing M23, an allegation Kigali denies. The group’s rise has not only disrupted civilian life but also exposed serious challenges to regional peacekeeping efforts.

As the evacuation unfolds over several days, many are watching closely to see whether the operation will proceed safely — and whether it signals a broader shift in the complex dynamics shaping one of Africa’s most protracted conflicts.