GOMA, Congo — Congolese security forces on Tuesday tried to slow the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who say they have captured Goma after entering eastern Congo’s largest city, as U.N. officials reported an unspecified number of bodies on the streets.
Hospitals are overwhelmed in Goma, while hundreds of thousands are fleeing gunfire and shelling, the officials said.
Dozens of demonstrators, meanwhile, attacked several foreign embassies, including those of Rwanda, France and Belgium far off in the capital, Kinshasa, demanding that they condemn Rwanda over its role in the major escalation in one of Africa’s longest conflicts driven by ethnic tensions.
The M23 rebels are one of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in the conflict-battered North Kivu province — which includes Goma — rich in minerals critical to much of the world’s technology.
There were reports of gender-based violence and rape committed by fighters, looting of property, including a humanitarian warehouse, and humanitarian and health facilities being hit in the city, U.N. humanitarian affairs office spokesman Jens Laerke said at a media briefing on Tuesday.
“The humanitarian situation in and around Goma remains extremely worrying, and this morning (there were) heavy small arms fire and mortar fire across the city and the presence of many dead bodies in the streets,” said Laerke, adding that hospitals are “struggling to manage the influx of wounded people.”
In the capital, Kinshasa, police fired tear gas at protesters as they looted and set fires to parts of the embassy buildings. The embassies of Kenya and Uganda were also attacked, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.
The protesters demanded that the international community pressure Rwanda over the rebel advance.
“We denounce the hypocrisy of the international community,” said Timothée Tshishimbi, one of the protesters. “They must tell Rwanda to stop this adventure.”
The attacks were condemned by the respective countries. Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said in a statement on X that the National Police have restored order and reinforced the security at the embassies.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said at least five people in Rwanda have been killed and 35 others wounded in shelling from Congo. He also told the AP that while the country has “behaved well” since the rebels entered Goma, “we have been shelled by the military coalition” of the Congolese army and its allies.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi “will have to accept talks with M23 to end the situation once and for all,” Nduhungirehe added.
While Rwanda denies that it’s supporting M23 rebels, it acknowledged last year that it has tr