M23 rebels backed by Rwanda claim to have captured Goma, leading to the displacement of thousands and threatening wider regional conflict. UN representatives report chaos in the city as fighting continues, with local soldiers surrendering. Accusations are exchanged between DRC and Rwanda regarding aggression and peace efforts.
Fighters from the M23 rebel group, supported by Rwanda, have declared the capture of Goma, an eastern city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This swift offensive has displaced thousands and poses the risk of escalating regional conflicts. Lawrence Kanyuka, a spokesperson for M23, assured residents that the city’s liberation was successfully achieved and urged calm among the populace.
The extent of M23’s control over Goma remains uncertain, but witnesses have reported the presence of rebel fighters in the city center and gunfire near key locations, such as the airport. Government troops had been instructed to surrender, with reports indicating that 100 Congolese soldiers surrendered their weapons to Uruguayan forces part of the UN peacekeeping mission. In the aftermath, UN peacekeeping staff and their families began evacuating to Rwanda.
The eastern DRC is marked by complex militia dynamics originating from the two regional wars following the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the mass murder of nearly one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The M23 group represents a continuation of Tutsi-led militia’s involvement in the region. UN representatives recently highlighted the advancing M23 forces, which have caused significant panic among local residents, claiming that they are using civilians as shields amidst ongoing violence.
In response to the unrest, DRC’s Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, accused Rwanda of engaging in blatant aggression and declared a state of war. However, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the UN, Ernest Rwamucyo, refrained from acknowledging these claims and criticized the DRC government for not committing to peace initiatives. M23 asserts its purpose is to safeguard the Tutsi ethnic group within the DRC.
The M23 group previously controlled Goma in 2012 and withdrew following international backlash against Rwandan support for them. Since re-emerging in late 2021, they have garnered renewed backing from Rwanda. The current military actions are likely to exacerbate the humanitarian crises in the region, with the UN reporting that over one-third of North Kivu’s population is currently displaced.
The ongoing conflict in Eastern DRC relates back to the events following the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which generated a complex web of militia factions driven by ethnic tensions. M23, a Tutsi-led militia, is notorious for its involvement in prior conflicts, briefly seizing Goma in 2012. The current resurgence of M23 is attributed to renewed support from Rwanda, coinciding with a deteriorating humanitarian situation in North Kivu, where many citizens have been displaced due to violence and unrest.
The capture of Goma by the M23 rebel group highlights the precarious security situation in the DRC, exacerbated by external influences and historical ethnic conflicts. With accusations leveled against Rwanda and the humanitarian crisis worsening, international attention remains critical to address the issues at hand and restore stability in the region.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
