Fear and Hunger Grip Goma After M23 Rebel Takeover
Residents of Goma face fear and hunger following M23’s takeover. The local populace expresses despair as essentials become scarce due to disrupted trade routes. With heavy fighting resulting in casualties and injuries, hopes for stability hinge on M23’s governance efforts, despite the dark history tied to the group’s past involvement in the region.
Residents of Goma, located on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have expressed profound anxiety and severe hunger following the recent takeover of the city by the M23 rebel group. Judith Saima, a 28-year-old merchant, remarked, “We are very afraid. This situation feels hopeless,” reflecting the intense fear that has gripped the community after days of heavy fighting, which left bodies in the streets.
Access to food has become a major concern for residents, as trade and agricultural routes have been disrupted. Ngise Ngeleka, a 26-year-old student, shared the tragic story of a neighbor who was struck by gunfire, his body abandoned in the street. One local, Adeline Tuma, lamented, “We have nothing left to eat. My children cry from hunger… I curse this war. A new, grim chapter of our lives begins.”
The ongoing conflict has further restricted travel by boat, typically used for transporting essential supplies. M23’s occupation of Minova, a port town on Lake Kivu, has effectively halted maritime trade. Although power and mobile services were restored recently, access to water remains precarious and some residents have resorted to drawing water from Lake Kivu.
M23 is part of a series of ethnic Tutsi-led insurgent struggles in eastern DRC, which have persisted since a peace deal in 2003 intended to end devastating conflicts. The group is allegedly backed by Rwanda, ostensibly to cleanse the region of groups associated with the 1994 genocide, although many accuse Rwanda of utilizing M23 to exploit DRC’s mineral wealth.
This resurgence of M23 has triggered comparisons to its past incursion in 2012, which was relatively brief. One resident noted the previous encounter was less violent, saying, “In 2012, they entered in broad daylight. We heard a few bombs, but the clashes didn’t last long. This time, the situation is far worse.” The humanitarian impact has been severe, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties.
According to the World Health Organization, at least 45 individuals have died, with over 2,000 injured in the past week. Many Congolese soldiers have abandoned their posts, creating further lawlessness. M23 has announced their determination to remain in the city, prompting some local leaders to express cautious optimism about potential stability and governance.
Despite the turmoil, there are mixed sentiments within Goma regarding M23’s presence. A senior UN official commented, “A lot of people are sick and tired of the chaos. If they can trade, security improves, their daily lives improve, then M23 could be popular.” Some locals believe the Congolese government has not adequately protected them, deeming engagement with M23 a necessity for progress.
The context surrounding Goma’s recent hostilities involves longstanding ethnic tensions and a history of armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. M23, an insurgent group primarily consisting of ethnic Tutsis, has a complicated history and is accused of having the backing of Rwanda. The situation is made more dire by the region’s instability, and the humanitarian crises that have persisted since the early 2000s, following multiple conflicts that claimed millions of lives.
The situation in Goma illustrates the dire humanitarian crisis as residents grapple with fear and scarcity. The takeover by M23 has unleashed violence reminiscent of past conflicts, prompting urgent calls for humanitarian aid and a cessation of hostilities. The duality of fear and cautious hope emerges, with some locals considering potential stability amidst chaos, though the overall impact remains profoundly tragic, with significant loss of life and ongoing displacement.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
