Corneille Nangaa, political head of AFC/M23 rebel group, on January 30, announced that they intend to continue marching in ‘liberation’ towards Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo. He was addressing the media at Serena Hotel Goma following capture of North Kivu’s biggest city –Goma earlier this week. This was the first major briefing by the group since taking over Goma. ALSO READ: DR Congo crisis: We must avoid manipulation, Kagame to EAC leaders The rebel group claimed total capture of Goma, a city that is home to two million people and a hub for international military and humanitarian interventions in the country’s conflict-ridden eastern region. This was after intense fighting with Congolese army (FARDC), along with the genocidal FDLR and several a myriad of armed groups, forces from the Southern African regional bloc, SADC, Burundian government forces, and hundreds of European mercenaries. Some of the mercenaries surrendered and are to be flown to Romania through Rwanda. ALSO READ: Rwanda calls for neutralisation of FDLR, withdrawal of foreign troops By Wednesday, the rebel group had solidified its control of Goma, capturing key strategic points, including the airport, border with Rwanda, maritime port, and national radio and television offices. “We are in Goma to stay. We are Congolese. We shall continue the march of liberation to Kinshasa. When they ask us to retreat, where do they want us to retreat to? We are not going anywhere.” Nangaa said the alliance leadership has put in place a team in charge of reviving the region’s socioeconomic life, humanitarian, financial, and infrastructure development. ALSO READ: Businesses re-open as normalcy returns in Rubavu To this, he urged residents to return to their homes and resume daily life and noted that electricity –which was cut off by the Kinshasa regime as well as internet –will be available in the next 48 hours. The group has largely enjoyed good relations with citizens of the areas where they captured, and have been involved in reconstruction activities for public infrastructures like schools. As the calm returned to the town that within a walking distance from Rwanda’s Rubavu town in north-western Rwanda, many residents who had fled to the outskirts were seen returning home on Tuesday.
