Rebels edging closer to taking key DR Congo city
Newshour
BBC
4.4 • 984 Ratings
🗓️ 28 January 2025
⏱️ 48 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
M23 fighters are getting closer to taking Goma after reports that they captured its airport. The Congolese government has insisted that it is still in charge as fighting in parts of the city continues.
Also on the programme: We hear from the UN's children's agency about the challenges of getting aid into Gaza as hundreds and thousands of Palestinians return to the North ; and we speak to the Bishop who asked President Trump to show mercy.
(Photo: Residents look at the remains of their damaged houses as a result of an attack by M23 rebels near Sake, Democratic Republic of Congo on 28 January 2025.Credit: STR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to NewsHour live from the BBC World Service in London. I'm Rebecca Kesb. |
| 0:09.3 | The situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo looks very serious for the government tonight. |
| 0:15.8 | The rebel M23 militia, backed by Rwanda, has been assaulting the city of Goma for days. |
| 0:22.5 | Sources say the local hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties. |
| 0:26.7 | The AFP news agency there puts the figure at around 100 people dead, but 1,000 injured, |
| 0:33.2 | based on contacts they've had with medics. |
| 0:35.7 | There are many gunshot wounds, apparently. |
| 0:38.2 | Most civilians are hiding in their homes without power or water |
| 0:42.2 | as clashes have continued in the streets. |
| 0:48.3 | Then, late this afternoon, reports that government troops |
| 0:51.9 | had lost control of the airport |
| 0:54.1 | and that it's now in the hands of M23 fighters. |
| 0:57.7 | The African Union has condemned the violence in a statement on social media. |
| 1:02.0 | A spokesman demanded the M23 put down their arms and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. |
| 1:09.9 | Meanwhile, in the capital, Kinshasa, some thousand kilometres away, |
| 1:13.9 | angry mobs have attacked a number of foreign embassies, |
| 1:17.4 | including those of Rwanda, France, Uganda, Belgium. |
| 1:20.8 | Demonstrators march through the streets to express their anger at the situation in the east. |
| 1:29.8 | Will many blame Rwanda and its long-term President Paul Kagami directly, this woman |
| 1:35.6 | sees it as an invasion and says she supports the president of the DRC, Felix Chisikadi. |
| 1:45.6 | Even if Kagame arrives here in Kinshasa and takes the place of the president, he will not be |
| 1:50.1 | able to govern. Congo is our country, the land of our ancestors. The blood that flows is not the |
... |
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