The Congolese army is battling Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have captured Goma, resulting in 700 deaths and a humanitarian crisis. The army has regained some territory, but remains weakened with heavy losses. Rwandan forces support the M23, and the situation threatens further violence and aid disruption in the region.
The Congolese army is engaged in intense combat against Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have rapidly advanced into South Kivu after capturing Goma, the region’s largest city, resulting in significant casualties. The United Nations reported that approximately 700 individuals have lost their lives in the recent fighting, exacerbating an already dire crisis that threatens another regional airport.
As of Saturday, the Congolese military managed to reclaim the villages of Sanzi, Muganzo, and Mukwidja, which had previously fallen to the rebels. However, the army has suffered major losses, with hundreds of troops lost and foreign mercenaries surrendering, leaving the military weakened in the face of aggressive rebel advances.
The U.N. peacekeeping chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, indicated that the M23 rebels and Rwandan forces are positioned just 60 kilometers from Bukavu, advancing swiftly along Lake Kivu’s border with Rwanda. This rapid movement raises concerns about the potential capture of an airport nearby, which would be a significant tactical gain for the rebels.
The M23 is a major faction amid over 100 armed groups competing for control in eastern Congo, a region rich in valuable minerals critical to global technology. Reports indicate that approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops are supporting the M23, a significant increase from their 2012 intervention when the group seized Goma for the first time.
The humanitarian crisis has deepened following the fall of Goma, which is critical for the delivery of aid to approximately 6 million displaced persons. Rebels have threatened to march towards Kinshasa, the capital, escalating fears of widespread violence and displacement.
A U.N. spokesman disclosed that 700 deaths and 2,800 injuries were documented in the fighting, with additional reports of summary executions and forced conscription by M23. Human rights violations also extend to Congolese forces, accused of sexual violence amid ongoing conflict.
The capture of Goma has severely disrupted humanitarian operations, jeopardizing assistance to communities in eastern Congo. This situation underscores a growing humanitarian crisis as rising violence and displacement render entire communities without support.
The ongoing conflict involving the Congolese army and the M23 rebels is part of a larger, complex web of violence driven by ethnic tensions and a struggle for control over mineral-rich lands in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The M23, which emerged in 2012, has received backing from Rwanda, exacerbating regional tensions and prompting humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and widespread reports of human rights abuses. The area around Goma is of strategic importance due to its resources and as a humanitarian hub for millions.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is dire, with ongoing violence resulting in significant loss of life and humanitarian strife. The re-emergence of the M23 rebels, supported by Rwandan forces, poses a severe threat to stability in the region, with the potential for expanded conflict and displacement. Urgent international intervention and support are crucial to address the humanitarian needs and restore peace.
Original Source: apnews.com
