Goma, a city in the DRC, remains shaken after the M23 rebel group’s takeover. Order has been replaced by chaos, disrupting daily life for over two million residents. Violence has led to substantial casualties, widespread displacement, and a crumbling infrastructure. As previous ceasefire attempts fail, prospects for peace remain dim, with humanitarian efforts strained.
GOMA, DR Congo, May 14 — The city of Goma, once a thriving border town set against the backdrop of Mount Nyiragongo, is currently experiencing an unsettling calm after enduring a tumultuous takeover by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group. More than three months have passed since M23 apace its grip on the city, and daily life for the over two million residents remains severely disrupted, leaving peace feeling like a distant dream.
It all began on January 27, when M23 fighters stormed into Goma, marking a significant escalation in an ongoing conflict that has plagued eastern Congo for decades. Many locals are reminded of the dark days of 2012, when a similar sequence of events saw the city fall into rebel hands, resulting in chaos and destruction. Heavy artillery battles led to neighborhoods being essentially war zones, destroying homes, and leaving the airport, radio stations, and border posts in shambles. The DRC government reports that the violence claimed over 8,500 lives and injured close to 5,600 people.
The situation escalated further. Displacement camps were not spared from the violence, with heartbreaking accounts of pregnant women and newborns caught in the crossfire. M23 issued a “humanitarian ceasefire” on February 4, but sporadic fighting has perpetuated across North and South Kivu provinces. The group quickly seized control of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, maintaining a troubling presence throughout the region.
Analysts are now cautioning that the current phase could be more entrenched. Corneille Nangaa, former chief of elections in the country and now leader of M23’s political wing, the Congo River Alliance, declared his intent to “liberate the entire country” including the capital, Kinshasa.
After Goma’s fall, a disquieting silence enveloped the city. The echo of gunfire faded but left a void filled with lawlessness and oppression. Businesses have closed, and the local banking system crumbled, as a cash shortage crippled transactions. With many government institutions failing, M23 has taken it upon itself to create checkpoints and enforce taxes, exacerbating the already dire situation.
The toll on civilians is catastrophic. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 1.2 million people have been displaced in the Kivu provinces since January alone, with many seeking refuge in Goma only to have to flee once again. In February, M23 delivered a chilling ultimatum to evacuate major displacement camps, leading to families hurriedly leaving homes with barely anything
Sake, located about 27 kilometers west of Goma, has turned into a battlefield, experiencing fierce clashes between M23 and Congolese forces, bolstered by local militia support since late 2023. The street battles have left Sake in ruins, but lurking dangers remain, as unexploded ordnance litter neighboring banana fields. A local resident, Christian Kabuya, noted, “We’ve found live shells in over ten locations,” lamenting the tragic deaths of several children in accidental explosions.
The medical situation isn’t any better. Ndosho Hospital, the only facility still receiving patients, is overwhelmed with casualties. Supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the hospital runs under immense pressure. Taoffic Mohamed Toure, an ICRC veteran, stated, “The situation here is uniquely complex,” referring to the multitude of combatants and persistent violence which makes working in eastern Congo particularly challenging.
As diplomatic dialogues falter and ceasefires collapse, the specter of war looms large over eastern DRC. In Goma, where the fiery lava from Nyiragongo used to flow and cool, remnants of conflict remain all too visible, underscoring the war’s enduring scars.
With children seen playing amongst the ruins and schools reduced to rubble, the heartache of the people and fading hope for peace casts a long shadow over daily life here in Goma.
The ongoing turmoil in Goma, DRC presents a stark picture of how conflict continues to devastate lives and communities. As M23 maintains control and violence persists, civilians face grave challenges such as displacement, loss of basic services, and deteriorating safety. International organizations struggle to provide necessary aid amid the complexities. The scars of war will likely take much longer to heal, leaving inhabitants to navigate the painful wounds of their past and uncertain future.
Original Source: english.news.cn
