Thousands displaced as rebels advance toward eastern Goma in Congo

​​​​​​​ISTANBUL

Thousands of residents fled eastern Goma on Thursday as fighting between government forces and the M23 rebels intensified in Congo, according to the Actualite.CD news website.

Increased tensions between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the rebels in Sake, located in western Goma, led residents to leave Goma, it said, along with videos on social media.

The influx of residents created widespread panic in the western part of the city, causing people to empty refugee camps and several schools to be closed until further notice.

The M23 rebels seized the eastern city of Minova, in Kalehe Territory, on Tuesday.

Earlier, the UN estimated that at least 237,000 people have been displaced because of the fighting in the region since early January.

Since 2021, M23 allegedly backed by Rwanda, has resuming attacks on the Congolese army, seizing several strategic locations in the east.

The Tutsi-led M23 rebel group claims to defend Tutsi interests against ethnic Hutu militias whose leaders are linked to genocide of Tutsi in Rwanda.

Congo and the West accuse Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels -- a claim Kigali has consistently denied.