Goma on Brink as M23 Forces Take Control Amid Escalating Violence
An armed group, backed by Rwandan troops, seized Goma’s airport amidst escalating violence in the DRC, resulting in over 100 deaths and nearly 1,000 injuries. This conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with thousands displaced and healthcare systems overwhelmed. Protests ensued in the capital against foreign nations, as calls for peace and disarmament continue amid lingering tensions rooted in regional history.
On Tuesday, an armed group supported by Rwandan forces captured Goma’s airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo following three days of violent clashes resulting in over 100 fatalities. The escalating conflict has also resulted in nearly 1,000 injuries, overwhelming hospitals in the city. The Tutsi-led M23 group, in coordination with Rwandan troops, represents a significant threat to the Congolese army, which has lost control of much of the mineral-rich North Kivu province.
After the M23’s incursion into central Goma initiated street-level combat involving heavy artillery, the city faced severe devastation. It remains unclear which areas are still under Congolese military control. Reports indicate that over 1,200 Congolese soldiers have surrendered and are now confined at a UN military base near the airport. This rapid military advance highlights the ongoing conflict’s severity in eastern DRC, complicated by historical regional tensions stemming from the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Furthermore, this violence has precipitated a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations reporting significant displacements, food shortages, and overwhelmed medical facilities. Residents of Goma have fled to neighboring Rwanda, highlighting the immediate impact on local populations. One witness recounted, “Bombs were falling and killing other people everywhere, we saw dead bodies.”
In Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, there have been protests targeting various embassies amidst rising tensions over foreign intervention. Activists attacked embassies belonging to nations including Rwanda, France, Belgium, and the United States, prompting the U.S. Embassy to advise its citizens to evacuate. The International Committee of the Red Cross emphasized the dire conditions in Goma’s hospitals.
The ongoing fighting has displaced over 500,000 individuals since the beginning of the year, leading to fears of renewed ethnic tensions. At a UN Security Council meeting, it was noted that ethnic conflicts from the past risk resurgence under the current conditions. The African Union has called for the M23 to disarm but did not directly attribute blame to Rwanda, which denies allegations of seeking regional gain from mineral-rich areas.
As violence continues in Goma, discussions are underway for a crisis summit involving the DRC President and the Rwandan President. The M23 previously occupied Goma in 2012 before being pushed out, re-emerging in late 2021 and prompting renewed hostilities. Previous attempts at ceasefire and peace talks have failed, leaving the region in instability.
The DRC has faced long-standing conflict in its eastern regions, intensified by historical tensions rooted in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The M23 movement, supported by Rwandan forces, has been accused of taking advantage of the region’s mineral wealth, intensifying violent clashes with Congolese military forces. This recent escalation highlights the fragility of peace in the region, with both military and humanitarian crises remaining deeply intertwined, complicating the prospect of stable governance and security in eastern DRC.
The violence in Goma underscores the complex interrelation of military conflict, historical ethnic tensions, and humanitarian crises in the DRC. As armed groups vie for control and foreign involvement exacerbates tensions, the impact on civilian populations is severe, necessitating urgent international attention and intervention. The call from the African Union for disarmament remains crucial as the region faces a potential resurgence of ethnic violence amidst ongoing instability.
Original Source: www.kulr8.com
