Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe as the M23 rebel group tightens its grip on the city and the surrounding mineral-rich areas.
The M23, largely drawn from the Tutsi ethnic group, claims it is defending the interests of Tutsis against Hutu militias. However, the group has been accused of committing atrocities, including murders, rapes, and kidnappings, which have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and seek refuge in Goma.
“We are really observing one of the most severe protection and humanitarian crises globally,” said Gillian Triggs, assistant high commissioner for protection at the United Nations Refugees Agency. “It is not only the particular circumstances, but the sheer scale and dimension of this humanitarian crisis which is particularly overwhelming”.
The situation on the ground is dire, with reports of rampant sexual violence, severe food shortages, and extreme poverty. Many women have been forced to venture out of the city in search of food, only to be attacked and raped by armed men.
Marie, a mother of six, was attacked while looking for food. “Unfortunately, I was by myself. When I was walking, I heard far gunshots and decided to flee, but I went the wrong way. They appeared in front of me. There were many. They said either we kill you, or you have sex with us. I thought about my children and if I died, who would look after them. I said: Do what you want with me, but keep me alive”.
The M23’s resurgence has been fueled by the group’s alleged backing by neighboring Rwanda, which has been accused of pursuing the DRC’s vast mineral wealth. Rwanda has denied supporting the M23, but a United Nations expert panel found “substantial evidence” of Rwandan involvement.
The conflict has displaced over 1 million people this year alone, with 6.7 million people in eastern DRC facing severe food shortages. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that it only has enough funding to feed a small fraction of those in need, with a shortfall of $700 million.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the international community is calling for urgent action to address the crisis. The US, France, Germany, and Belgium have all publicly called on Rwanda to halt its support for the M23, while the UK has condemned the violence but stopped short of criticizing Rwanda.
The conflict in eastern DRC has its roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which spilled over into the DRC. The M23 claims it is fighting to protect Tutsi interests, but critics argue that the group’s true motives are to control the region’s lucrative mineral resources.
As the people of Goma and beyond continue to suffer, it remains to be seen whether the international community will take decisive action to bring an end to the conflict and hold those responsible to account.
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