Majority of Indian nationals in Goma have moved to safety: MEA

Congolese Major-General Somo Kakule Evariste walks as he arrives to assume office as the new military governor of the conflict-hit North Kivu province amid tensions following clashes in Goma between M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo January 31, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The majority of Indian nationals living in violence-hit Goma in Congo have moved to safer places, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said on Friday (Janaury 31, 2025).

The M23 rebel group, backed by Rwandan soldiers, has taken complete control of all key locations in Goma, including the airport, and the Congolese armed forces have given up showing white flags, according to defence sources.

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Calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, Mr. Jaiswal said: “We are closely following the developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We remain concerned at the deteriorating security situation.”

“Our Embassy in Kinshasa has issued advisories for Indians living in the Goma area where the conflict has taken place,” Mr. Jaiswal said. “There are about 1,000 Indian nationals in Goma. Most of them have moved to safer places since the outbreak of the conflict. The Embassy remains in regular touch with the community for their welfare and safety.”

‘Firing has stopped’

According to defence sources, firing has stopped in Goma, and all Indian troops – over 1,200 – deployed under the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) are absolutely safe. “Situation in the area is relatively calm. There is no effect on unit deployment. UN mandate is being fulfilled as required.,” one official added.

On the Indian troops, Mr. Jaiswal said they were in regular touch with the UN on the evolving situation in DRC.

Indian troops are deployed at two locations – Goma and Sake.

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The mission MONUSCO headquartered at Kinshasa was established in 2010 replacing the earlier MONUC. As of October 2024, there were 13,971 personnel, with Bangladesh being the highest troop contributing nation with over 1,700 troops.

The M23 rebel group swept through several towns beyond Goma, a city of two million, in the last few days, and the intense fighting has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee.