The AFC-M23 rebels have captured Goma and Bukavu in eastern DRC with minimal resistance, revealing the weakness of the national armed forces. They are establishing a parallel governance system and relocating displaced persons to enhance security. Paloma Laudet captured the impacts of this transition on local communities, stressing ongoing instability.
Following the fall of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, on January 28, AFC-M23 rebels, supported by approximately 4,000 troops from the Rwandan Defense Forces, swiftly captured Bukavu two weeks later. This takeover occurred with minimal resistance, underscoring the disarray within the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) armed forces, known as FARDC, along with their Burundian allies and pro-government militias.
The M23 and its political wing, the AFC, are now striving to establish a governance framework in the territories under their control, parallel to the existing government led by President Félix Tshisekedi, who has held office since 2019. Their new administrative order involves the involuntary relocation of internally displaced persons from camps that formed amid the resurgence of conflict since November 2021. This relocation policy aims both to reduce potential threats to security and to exhibit the political efficacy of the newly installed authorities.
Photographer Paloma Laudet documented the transition of control from Goma to Bukavu, including the resulting implications for local communities in regions such as Monigi and Minova. Her work highlights the significant consequences faced by the populace amidst the shift to M23 governance.
The recent advances of the AFC-M23 rebels in eastern DRC, marked by the fall of key cities such as Goma and Bukavu, highlight the instability of the region and the challenges facing the DRC government. The forced relocation of displaced persons raises concerns over human rights and security, as the rebels seek to establish a parallel authority. The situation remains critically volatile, affecting the lives of countless individuals in the region.
Original Source: www.lemonde.fr
