Goma Airport Seized Amid Escalating Violence in DR Congo
An armed group backed by Rwandan troops has taken Goma’s airport amid escalating violence, resulting in over 100 deaths and significant injury. The humanitarian crisis deepens as approximately half a million are displaced. Protests have also erupted in Kinshasa against foreign nations, raising international concerns and prompting calls for ceasefire and intervention.
On Tuesday, an armed group supported by Rwandan forces seized Goma’s airport amid escalated violence, claiming over 100 lives during three days of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Nearly 1,000 individuals have sustained injuries, overwhelming local hospitals. The Tutsi-led M23 armed group’s advancement positions Goma at a critical juncture, with the Congolese army losing control of significant areas in North Kivu province.
Following their entry into central Goma, M23 fighters engaged in intense street battles involving heavy artillery, resulting in casualties throughout the city. Reports indicate that M23 has established control over the airport, with security sources revealing that over 1,200 Congolese soldiers have surrendered, confined near a UN mission base. These developments mark a significant escalation in the ongoing turmoil in the DRC’s eastern regions, haunted by historical regional tensions.
The rise of violence has prompted a humanitarian crisis, as the United Nations warns of mass displacement and food shortages. Many residents fled Goma, with testimonies revealing terrifying scenes of violence and death. Activists have also taken to the streets in Kinshasa, protesting against various countries amidst the turmoil, leading to hostile encounters at several foreign embassies.
Efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross are underway to manage the influx of wounded individuals to Goma’s overwhelmed medical facilities. Health authorities have expressed serious concerns about the potential spread of diseases, including Ebola, if conflicts disrupt laboratory samples held in Goma. Since the conflict’s increase earlier this year, around half a million people have been displaced by violence.
At a UN Security Council session, concerns about the risk of renewed ethnic strife were presented, alongside accounts of ethnically motivated violence against displaced persons in Goma. Although the Congolese government expressed concerns over the ambiguous statements regarding Rwanda’s involvement, the African Union has urged M23 combatants to cease hostilities.
The DRC accuses Rwanda of seeking to exploit the region’s abundant natural resources, while Rwanda defends its actions as a necessary response to threats from armed groups like the FDLR, linked to the Rwandan genocide. Amidst ongoing violence, discussions are planned between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame for conflict resolution. M23 previously occupied Goma in late 2012, but was defeated; its resurgence began in late 2021 with the capture of large territories in North Kivu.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has long been marred by conflict, particularly in its eastern regions, where various armed groups vie for control. The M23 group, a Tutsi-led faction, has re-emerged since late 2021, exacerbating hostilities that have historical roots in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting M23 to gain access to the country’s mineral wealth, igniting international tensions and humanitarian crises amidst the ongoing violence.
The seizure of Goma’s airport by pro-Rwanda forces marks a critical moment in the DRC’s ongoing conflict, highlighting the humanitarian impacts of the violence. With thousands displaced and hospitals overwhelmed, the situation remains dire. As diplomatic efforts are initiated to address the crisis, the DRC continues to grapple with its complex legacy of ethnic strife and regional rivalries, demanding urgent international attention to stabilize the region.
Original Source: www.wfxg.com
