The M23 rebels are advancing toward Goma in eastern DRC, causing hundreds of injuries among civilians and impacting UN peacekeepers. The conflict has resulted in significant territorial gains for the rebels, including the death of North Kivu’s governor, leading to a humanitarian crisis and displacing over 400,000 individuals this year.
Recent military encounters have resulted in hundreds of injuries among civilians in Goma, a city of approximately two million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The M23 rebel group has made significant advances, encircling Goma and intensifying clashes with government troops, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis. Many injured individuals, including men, women, and children, have been transported to hospitals in the region as the violence escalates.
The United Nations reported nine peacekeepers were injured due to confrontations with M23 rebels. These incidents primarily transpired in Sake, located 27 kilometers west of Goma. Control of this town is crucial as it represents one of the last major access routes to the provincial capital still under government authority, further complicating the security situation.
M23’s recent successes include the death of North Kivu Province Governor, Maj. Gen. Peter Cirimwami, who was leading military operations when injured. He succumbed to his injuries in a hospital after being attacked while visiting troops on the frontline. The ongoing conflict in the border area with Rwanda has escalated into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The rebel group previously seized Goma in 2012 and maintained control for over a week. Since 2021, the DRC government, supported by Burundian and U.N. forces, has worked to prevent M23’s advances towards Goma. Allegations against Rwanda supporting M23, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis, have intensified despite the Rwandan government denying such claims but acknowledging its military presence in eastern Congo for security reasons.
Presently, U.N. estimates suggest there are up to 4,000 Rwandan soldiers operating in Congo. The rising conflict has resulted in the displacement of over 400,000 individuals in 2023 alone, exacerbating dire conditions in already overcrowded displacement centers and leading to an upsurge in cholera cases.
The ongoing conflict in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply rooted in the country’s tumultuous history, including decades of violence linked to ethnic tensions and rivalry, particularly with neighboring Rwanda. The M23 rebel group, primarily made up of ethnic Tutsis, has been involved in violent confrontations with government forces. The prevailing instability has resulted in not only territorial disputes but also a humanitarian crisis, affecting millions, and displacing hundreds of thousands since the beginning of the year 2023.
In summary, the advances of the M23 rebels in eastern DRC pose significant threats to the city of Goma and its inhabitants. The conflict has resulted in numerous civilian injuries, the deaths of key military figures, and a tragic humanitarian situation characterized by mass displacement and an increase in diseases such as cholera. The role of regional dynamics, particularly Rwanda’s involvement, remains a critical component of the situation’s complexity.
Original Source: www.euronews.com
