A dramatic mass jailbreak occurred early Monday morning at a prison in Goma, located in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The escape came just hours after fighters from the M23 armed group, backed by Rwandan troops, entered the city.
A security source confirmed the prison, which housed around 3,000 inmates, was “totally torched,” leading to multiple fatalities. Prisoners could be seen fleeing the area, with some spotted in the surrounding streets.
The jailbreak coincided with a night of intense fighting, with gunshots and large explosions reported across Goma’s city center on January 26, 2025.
The city, besieged by the M23 and Rwandan forces, has been under heavy attack for several days. Goma, a city rich in mineral resources, is home to over a million residents and countless displaced people caught in the ongoing conflict.
The M23, which is fighting alongside Rwandan soldiers, has made significant territorial gains near Goma in recent days.
Tensions have escalated as Rwandan forces, accused by the DRC of aiding the M23, have crossed the border in what the DRC considers a “declaration of war.”
The UN Security Council issued a statement urging the withdrawal of foreign forces but refrained from explicitly naming Rwanda.
Over the past days, the fighting in Goma has resulted in at least a dozen peacekeepers’ deaths, with the UN calling for Rwanda to pull its forces out of DRC territory.
However, Rwanda has rejected these demands, asserting that its military presence is necessary to safeguard its national security amid the cross-border violence.
Diplomatic relations between the DRC and Rwanda have rapidly deteriorated, with both countries recalling their diplomats.
This breakdown comes after peace talks between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame were canceled in December, which led to a swift advance by the M23 towards Goma.
Amid these dire developments, Kenyan President William Ruto announced a summit in the coming days to facilitate talks between Tshisekedi and Kagame in an effort to resolve the escalating crisis.
However, with both sides entrenched in their positions, the road to peace seems fraught with challenges.
The international community continues to call for an end to the violence, but the future of Goma—and the broader region—remains uncertain.