M23 rebels escort government soldiers and police who surrendered to an undisclosed location in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. File
| Photo Credit: AP

The Embassy of India in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Sunday (February 2, 2025) said it is closely monitoring the security situation in the central African country and asked all the Indian nationals in Bukavu “to immediately depart to safer locations.”

The Embassy issued three advisories during the day and recommended that everyone prepare an emergency plan. There are about 1,000 Indian nationals in Congo. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured the eastern Congolese city of Goma and are looking at expanding their area of control.

“There are reports of M23 being only around 20-25 kms away from Bukavu. Given the security situation, we once again advise all Indian nationals residing in Bukavu to immediately depart to safer locations by whatever means available while the airports, borders and commercial routes are still open. We strongly recommend against any travel to Bukavu,” the advisory said.

In the latest advisory, the Embassy recommended that everyone prepare an emergency plan and gave instructions to keep, at all times, all essential identity and travel documents with them; keep essential items such as medicines, clothings, travel documents, ready-to-eat food, water, etc. in a bag that can be carried easily, and monitor local media channels for updates.

Collating information

The Indian Embassy also said that it is collating information on Indian nationals in Bukavu and asked asked them to urgently send relevant information such as full name, passport number, addresses in Congo and India, contact number among other details.

The latest advisory has also given a number (+243 890024313) and a mail ID (cons.kinshasas@mea.gov.in) for Indian nationals to contact in the case of emergency.

The Indian Embassy had originally issued the advisory for all Indian nationals in Bukavu, South Kivu in Congo on January 30.

India had on Friday called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Congo and said it is closely following the developments in the central African country.

In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said about 1,000 Indian nationals are living in Goma. He, however, had said that most of them had moved to safer places following the start of the conflict.

Mr. Jaiswal also said that there are around 1,200 Indian troops serving in the country as part of the MONUSCO (UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo) peacekeeping mission in eastern Congo.

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.

Also Read | Congo’s leader calls for massive military mobilization as Rwanda-backed rebels expand their control

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.

Also Read | Congo’s forces try to slow Rwanda-backed rebels in the east as protests break out in the capital

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.