M23 rebels escort government soldiers and police who surrendered to an undisclosed location in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan.
The M23 rebels also said they would be open to dialogue with the Congolese government at a briefing Thursday as they sought to assert their control over the eastern city of Goma and surrounding territory. They asked residents to go about their daily life while the rebels work on facilitating much-needed humanitarian assistance. He did not indicate how the rebels planned to advance on the capital, more than 1, kilometers nearly 1, miles away.
The M23 rebels are backed by some 4, troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U. As much of Goma remained without electricity and water on Thursday, several bodies allegedly of government soldiers were lying in the streets as residents including children looked on in seeming horror.
M23 rebels escorted some 2, government soldiers and police officers β who they said surrendered β to an undisclosed location, some of them singing anti-Tshisekedi songs. The U.
Humanitarian Coordinator in Congo said basic services are largely paralyzed in Goma, a humanitarian hub critical for more than 6 million people displaced by the conflict in eastern Congo. Footage from Goma showed residents carrying food items and goods looted from stores and warehouses in the city. The Congolese military has been weakened after hundreds of foreign military contractors withdrew and handed over their arms to the rebels.
