- Title: Foreign mercenaries surrender in Congo, cross to Rwanda
- Date: 29th January 2025
- Summary: GISENYI, RWANDA (JANUARY 29, 2025) (REUTERS) BORDER CROSSING BETWEEN RWANDA AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO FOREIGN MERCENARIES WALKING THROUGH BORDER CROSSING RWANDAN SOLDIER STANDING GUARD MERCENARIES WAITING BORDER AUTHORITIES DIRECTING MERCENARIES TO SIT MERCENARIES WAITING BORDER CROSSING VARIOUS OF MERCENARIES UNPACKING BAG VARIOUS OF BORDER DOG SNIFFING BAG VARIOUS OF MERCENARIES WAITING VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS PATROLLING NEAR BORDER MERCENARY WATCHING BORDER OFFICIAL SEARCH BAG MERCENARY WALKING AWAY FROM BORDER CROSSING VARIOUS OF MERCENARIES LINED UP IN FRONT OF BUSES MERCENARIES BOARDING BUS MERCENARIES LOOKING OUT BUS WINDOW MERCENARIES WALKING TOWARD BUSES
- Embargoed: 12th February 2025 11:41
- Keywords: conflict congo democratic fardc insurgencies m23 military peace republic rwanda war
- Location: GISENYI, RWANDA
- City: GISENYI, RWANDA
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001704429012025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of foreign military contractors crossed into Rwanda from Goma on Wednesday (January 29) after surrendering to the United Nations, as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels consolidated control over eastern Congo's largest city.
The exodus followed M23's capture of Goma on Monday. Residents reported sporadic gunfire in outlying districts, but the city of nearly 2 million was mostly quiet.
The rebels seized Goma's international airport on Tuesday, potentially cutting off a key aid route for hundreds of thousands of displaced people. The assault has drawn widespread international condemnation of Rwanda and calls for a ceasefire.
Goma's hospitals are overwhelmed, having treated at least 760 wounded, according to medical sources. An accurate death toll remains unclear as many casualties occur outside medical facilities.
(Production: Edwin Waita, Cooper Inveen) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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