海角大神

鈥� A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

A rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo seized strategic parts of the eastern, mineral-rich city of Goma today, and is reportedly moving south toward聽 Bukavu, threatening to immerse one of Africa鈥檚 largest countries in a new conflict and destabilize the region.

Fighters from the March 23 movement (M23), a rebel group created just seven months ago, entered Goma after clashes broke out with Congolese soldiers over the weekend, reports the Associated Press.

According to Reuters, a senior UN source said Congolese troops evacuated Goma, and UN peacekeepers were unable to put up a defense.

"There is no Army left in the town, not a soul ... once they were in the town what could we do? It could have been very serious for the population," the Reuters source said, asking not to be named. Residents were ordered to evacuate, and refugee camps in the area were abandoned, Reuters reports.

"Despite the attack helicopters, despite the heavy weapons, the FARDC (Congo national Army) has let the town fall into our hands," Col. Vianney Kazarama, a spokesman for M23, told Reuters by telephone.

The Goma airport is a lifeline for the many aid organizations based there, as well as businesses.聽 The Congolese Army has denied claims that M23 rebels have taken over the airport, which sits across the street from the UN headquarters, reports The Daily Telegraph. 鈥淸T]here are fears that if Goma falls, rebel footsoldiers will go on a rampage of looting and rape, particularly if the UN continues to appear ineffective.鈥�

The M23 offensive began after rebels demanded direct talks with the Congolese government. According to The Wall Street Journal, Lambert Mende, Congo's information minister, ruled out direct talks with M23, saying the government "would rather speak to Rwanda, which is the real force behind the current offensive."

A UN panel of experts has accused both Rwanda and Uganda of backing the rebels, though leaders from both countries deny the charges.聽 The AP reports that Rwanda is accused of equipping M23 rebels with 鈥渟ophisticated arms, including night vision goggles and 120 mm mortars.鈥� And, according to the BBC, the M23 is made up of mostly ethnic Tutsis, which is the same group that dominates Rwanda鈥檚 government.

The New York Times reports this is the heaviest fighting seen in eastern Congo since 2008. That was when Goma was last threatened by rebels, reports the AP, 鈥渨hen fighters from the now-defunct National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP, stopped just short of Goma, after intense international pressure.鈥�

The rebels are led by a 鈥渞enegade general鈥� Bosco Ntaganda who is wanted by the International Criminal Court to answer charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, reports the Journal. During the mass defections last April, 海角大神鈥檚 guest blogger Jason K. Stearns wrote that Congolese generals feared Ntaganda and his troops would attack Goma 鈥渢o make a point.鈥�

Mr. Stearns, an expert on eastern Congo, echoed that sentiment in comments to the Times this week. 鈥淭his is the big escalation we鈥檝e been expecting for months." But, Stearns added, 鈥渇or the M23, taking Goma is a gamble. It gives them huge leverage, but also brings greater infamy.

鈥淚t will be a serious blow to the region鈥檚 stability.鈥�