Over 1,000 United Nations staff, MONUSCO peacekeepers, and Congolese civilians have crossed to Uganda after being forcibly expelled from Goma by the M23 rebel group and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).
The evacuees, including UN personnel, humanitarian workers, and Congolese government officials, crossed into Uganda through the Katuna and Kyanika border points in an extensive, heavily guarded convoy.
Their ultimate destination is Entebbe International Airport, where they are scheduled to be flown to Kinshasa and other secure locations amid fears of further violence.
The mass exodus comes just days after M23 and RDF forces seized control of Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, marking a significant blow to the Congolese government’s authority in the region.
Eyewitnesses described a “long, winding convoy” of buses carrying both international staff and Congolese nationals, stretching several kilometres as it crossed into Uganda.
“We have never seen anything like this,” said a Ugandan border official at Katuna.
“The convoy was massive—filled with UN staff, aid workers, and Congolese officials with their families. Many of them looked exhausted and terrified.”

The convoy is now en route to Entebbe under the protection of Ugandan security forces and UN escorts as fears mount that the conflict could spill over into neighbouring countries.
This forced expulsion highlights M23’s growing confidence and control in the region, as they not only challenge the Congolese government’s authority but also openly defy international organizations.
Before the latest offensive, more than 800,000 people in North Kivu and South Kivu were already dependent on humanitarian assistance. Now, with key personnel gone, the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), provided a detailed briefing from Goma, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation and the need for “urgent and coordinated international action”.
The UN has called for immediate humanitarian access to the affected areas, urging all parties to cease hostilities and allow aid workers to return.
The crisis has triggered widespread condemnation from the international community.
The United Kingdom, in a strongly worded statement, demanded the immediate withdrawal of RDF forces from Congolese territory and warned Rwanda that further military aggression could provoke serious diplomatic repercussions.
“The occupation of Goma and the expulsion of UN staff represent an unacceptable breach of the DRC’s sovereignty,” the UK Foreign Office said. “We are considering all options, including a review of our support to Rwanda.”