M23 rebels, with Rwandan support, have claimed the capture of Goma in eastern Congo, prompting mass evacuations and increasing humanitarian crises. The conflict has roots in long-standing regional tensions, with significant casualties reported. The UN has urged Rwanda to withdraw troops, and the Congolese military maintains a defiant stance, amidst escalating violence.
In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), government forces appear to have collapsed as M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, claim control over the city of Goma. Artillery fire was constant on Sunday, with residents fleeing toward the city center and seeking refuge amid closed shops and damaged infrastructure. Most of Goma’s million-plus residents faced power outages, hindering their communication efforts.
The ongoing violence in eastern Congo is rooted in long-standing conflicts stemming from the Rwandan genocide of 1994. M23, formed by Congolese Tutsi officers and originally emerging as a successor to earlier militias in 2012, claims to protect minority Tutsis in the region. Rights groups, however, accuse M23 of severe human rights abuses, including massacres.
Significantly escalating conflict since January saw M23 swooping down from hills to capture territory, leading Congolese forces and their allies to confront them fiercely. Supported by various military groups, including regional troops from South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi, the Congolese army remains outnumbered and outgunned against the well-equipped M23.
Fatalities from recent battles remain unclear, with casualties including six UN peacekeepers and nine soldiers from the regional force. As Goma’s fall became imminent, the UN evacuated most of its civilian staff, leaving significant humanitarian gaps for displaced populations in the area.
Rwanda’s backing of M23 has drawn international scrutiny, with reports indicating the presence of up to 4,000 Rwandan troops and advanced military equipment in North Kivu. Despite denial of direct involvement, UN leadership urged Rwanda to withdraw its forces in light of escalating tensions. Tensions persist, heightened by the local military’s alleged cooperation with other militias, including the FDLR, further complicating the conflict.
As artillery fire echoed in Goma, the situation remains fluid, with hospitals overwhelmed and the airport closed. While Congo’s military asserts a commitment to defending the city, a formal declaration of war against Rwanda has yet to be made. Congolese military representatives continue to maintain a defiant stance amid escalating violence.
The situation in Goma, eastern Congo, is dire as M23 rebels claim control of the city, backed by Rwandan support. The long-standing conflict has roots in historical tensions, with recent escalations resulting in significant casualties. Despite UN calls for Rwanda to withdraw, the Congolese military remains committed, yet unprepared, as humanitarian needs grow amidst violence. The path ahead remains precarious as both human and military dynamics evolve.
Original Source: www.gpb.org
