International News
Multiple Deaths In Goma’s Mass Jailbreak As Fighting Escalates In DR Congo
DR Congo – A violent jailbreak unfolded early Monday morning at a prison in Goma, just hours after fighters from the M23 armed group and Rwandan troops entered the city.
According to a security source, the prison, which housed around 3,000 inmates, was “totally torched” during the massive escape, leading to “deaths,” though details remain limited.
Fleeing prisoners were seen running through the surrounding streets, witnesses reported to AFP.
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The chaos erupted as gunfire and large explosions shook the city center of Goma on the night of January 26, 2025, as M23 fighters, bolstered by Rwandan forces, clashed with the Congolese army on the outskirts of the city.
Large explosions continued after nightfall, causing panic among residents in this mineral-rich region, which is also home to over a million people and as many displaced by the ongoing violence.
The battle for Goma, a critical strategic location, marks a new chapter in the decade-long instability plaguing eastern DRC.
It highlights the deepening tensions involving Rwanda and the DRC, fueled by long-standing regional rivalries, ethnic tensions, and armed militia confrontations.
International calls for an end to the fighting have grown louder, as Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Sunday that a summit would be convened in the coming days between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame to address the crisis.
Fighters from the M23, with support from Rwandan troops, have been clashing with Congolese forces near Goma for several days. Despite calls for an end to the violence, Rwanda has continued to reinforce its position.
On Sunday, between 500 and 1,000 additional Rwandan soldiers were reported to have crossed into DRC, strengthening M23’s offensive.
The DRC government has strongly condemned Rwanda’s actions, accusing Kigali of violating its sovereignty.
“This is a frontal assault, a declaration of war that no longer hides behind diplomatic artifice,” Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner stated during an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Sunday.
In response, Rwanda’s foreign ministry defended its military presence, asserting it was necessary to maintain a “sustained defensive posture” due to the ongoing fighting near the border.
“This fighting close to the Rwandan border continues to present a serious threat to Rwanda’s security and territorial integrity,” a Rwandan statement said.
The United Nations Security Council has urged the withdrawal of foreign forces, but avoided naming Rwanda directly.
However, the UN has expressed concern over Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict, with a report alleging that Rwanda is using the M23 to secure access to the DRC’s vast mineral wealth, which it then exports for its own gain. UN sources confirmed that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are currently backing the M23.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the violence continues to claim the lives of both local civilians and foreign peacekeepers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 and withdraw its troops from the DRC, though these calls have been rejected by Kigali.
With diplomatic relations between Rwanda and the DRC deteriorating rapidly, both countries have recalled their ambassadors, and tensions remain high.
A tragic plane crash in northern South Sudan has killed at least 20 people, with only one survivor, Unity State’s Minister for Information, Gatwech Bipal Both, confirmed on Wednesday.
The aircraft, operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company and chartered by Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), crashed 500 meters from the airport near the oil fields in Unity State.
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The crash occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time (0830 GMT), shortly after takeoff for the capital, Juba.
“The plane crashed 500 metres away from the airport. 21 people were on board. As for now, there’s only one survivor,” Bipal Both told AFP.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
While the exact reason remains unclear, “most people predicted that this might be a mechanical collision,” the minister added.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has a poor aviation safety record, with plane crashes often linked to mechanical failures, overloading, and inadequate infrastructure.
A devastating pre-dawn stampede at the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured early Wednesday.
The tragedy has been traced to a surging crowd breaking through police barriers, trampling bystanders in a chaotic manner.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:00 am local time (1930 GMT Tuesday) as millions of Hindu pilgrims rushed to participate in a sacred ritual bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.
Many of the victims were people resting on the ground when the crowd surged forward in the darkness.
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“I was sitting near a barricade, and during the pushing and shoving, the entire crowd fell on top of me, trampling me as it moved forward,” said 48-year-old pilgrim Renu Devi. “When the crowd surged, elderly people and women were crushed, and no one came forward to help.”
Emergency teams quickly responded, carrying victims away on stretchers as discarded shoes, clothing, and personal belongings littered the area.
Authorities have yet to release an official death toll, but a doctor treating survivors at a nearby hospital confirmed “at least 15 people” had died, with many more injured.
The doctor spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tragedy as “extremely sad” and extended his “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims. “I wish for the speedy recovery of all injured,” he added.
Meanwhile, political opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the authorities, blaming the disaster on poor crowd control.
“Mismanagement and the administration’s special focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic incident,” he wrote on social media.
The six-week Kumbh Mela is one of the holiest events in the Hindu calendar, drawing tens of millions of devotees.
Wednesday was a particularly significant bathing day, with saffron-clad holy men leading mass rituals.
However, in the aftermath of the stampede, festival officials patrolled the grounds with loudspeakers, urging pilgrims to stay away from the main bathing area.
“We humbly request all devotees do not come to the main bathing spot,” one official announced over a megaphone. “Please cooperate with security personnel.”
Despite the warnings, state officials reported that millions of pilgrims had already taken their ritual baths between midnight and early morning.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that medical workers were treating the seriously injured and assured the public that the situation was “under control.”
The Kumbh Mela is a logistical challenge of enormous scale.
Organizers had likened this year’s event to the size of a temporary nation, with an estimated 400 million pilgrims expected by the festival’s end on February 26.
To manage the crowds, authorities installed hundreds of surveillance cameras and drones to monitor congestion.
However, stampedes at religious events remain a deadly risk in India. In 1954, over 400 people died in a single day at the Kumbh Mela, marking one of the deadliest crowd disasters in history.
More recently, in 2013, another 36 pilgrims lost their lives in a similar tragedy in Prayagraj.
Despite the security measures in place, Wednesday’s stampede has once again raised concerns about crowd management at massive religious gatherings.
As frightened devotees began leaving Prayagraj, railway official Manish Kumar reported that several special train services had been halted due to excessive crowding.
“I heard the news and saw the bathing site,” said festival attendee Sanjay Nishad. “My family got scared, so we’re leaving.”
An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.
A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.
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One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.
South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.
This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.
Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.
The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.
According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.
The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.
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