CONGOLESE CITY GOMA UNDER THREAT

KINSHASA - A rocket landed near a university in the Congolese city of Goma on Wednesday as thousands of civilians fled a fresh advance by M23 rebels that threatens to isolate the city of around two million people.

There were no casualties from the strike, which blasted a crater into open ground in the Lac Vert neighbourhood, but it underscored the potential threat to Goma, a strategic urban hub in Democratic Republic of Congo's conflict-ridden east.

"This shows that M23 is targeting Goma now. The government has to do something to stop M23's progress," 25-year-old student Sophonie Bayonga said at the scene.

The M23 launched a major offensive in 2022, which led to military intervention and mediation efforts by East African regional leaders. They brokered a ceasefire last year but it has been repeatedly violated.

Congo, Western powers and a U.N. expert group have said the Tutsi-led rebel group is supported by neighbouring Rwanda, which Rwanda denies.

Clashes between the rebels, army forces and self-defence groups that support them have escalated recently, forcing entire communities to flee to perceived areas of greater safety on the outskirts of Goma.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, U.N. under-secretary-general for peace operations, described the situation around Goma as "very worrying" after an official visit to the province this week.

"It raises the risk of a regional explosion," he said on Wednesday, calling on the M23 to immediately cease its offensive and for diplomatic efforts to resume with all actors in the region.

He called for a reinforcement of Congolese forces in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, the three provinces that a U.N. peacekeeping force is due to leave this year as part of its disengagement from the country.

The M23 said in a statement on Wednesday that this was not its goal and described its actions as "defensive manoeuvres." –