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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 23635, member: 2262"] M23 Rebels Vow to Take Goma City. GOMA, DR Congo—The M23 rebel group says it will seize Goma and call it a "liberation" of the city. Fierce fighting rages in Sake, the last defense before Goma. Congolese and regional troops are trying hard to stop the rebels. Lawrence Kanyuka speaks for M23. On Thursday, he said M23 is coming to "free the people of Goma." He told them to "get ready to welcome this freedom." "They do not need to fear," Kanyuka added. "M23 is bringing them peace." The Congolese army has joined forces with troops from Southern Africa. They are using big guns, helicopters, and elite soldiers in Sake to prevent M23 from breaking through to Goma. South African forces are a key part of this effort. They are helping Congo's army defend the city. A military official said, "Sake is the main point of the battle. There is a lot at stake. It is the last barrier protecting Goma." What happens in Sake could affect the whole Great Lakes region. South Africa's defense chief, Angie Motshekga, came to Congo on January 22. She wants to see the situation herself. She will also talk to South African soldiers there. South Africa is committed to peace in the region and stresses the importance of keeping Goma safe. Motshekga's trip shows concern that M23 could start a bigger war. Other nearby countries, like Burundi and Rwanda, might be pulled into it. If Goma falls, it would be a major blow. The city is a key center for business and aid, and it could make the area very unstable. Congo's government says Rwanda backs M23. Rwanda denies this. President Félix Tshisekedi wants the world to act. He is calling for sanctions on Rwanda and more help for Congo's military and its friends. [/QUOTE]

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