The M23 rebel group has claimed control of Goma, eastern DRC, leading to widespread panic and displacement. The situation remains fluid, with reports of gunfire and troop surrenders. The ongoing conflict echoes past regional tensions rooted in historical grievances. DRC officials accuse Rwanda of aggression, while humanitarian crises worsen amid escalating violence.
Recently, the M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda, has claimed to have seized control of Goma, an eastern city within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This sudden advance has prompted the displacement of thousands and raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. M23’s spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, assured Goma’s residents that the situation remains under control after the city’s so-called liberation.
As of Monday morning, the extent of M23’s control in Goma was uncertain, though witnesses indicated the presence of rebel fighters in the city’s center. Residents reported gunfire near key areas including the airport and city center, sparking alarm among the populace. Additionally, 100 Congolese soldiers have reportedly surrendered to Uruguayan troops as part of the UN peacekeeping mission, Monusco, amidst ongoing military threats.
The eastern DRC is a historically volatile region characterized by various rebel factions, largely a legacy of the regional conflicts ignited post-Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. M23 represents the latest Tutsi-led insurgency movement. While speaking to the UN Security Council, Bintou Keita, the UN special representative, described the chaotic situation, noting that M23 fighters utilized civilians as human shields during their advance, leading to widespread panic.
In a forceful address, DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of conducting direct aggression against the DRC, calling it a clear declaration of war. Conversely, Rwanda’s ambassador to the UN, Ernest Rwamucyo, refrained from confirming or denying the allegations, instead attributing the current crisis to the DRC government’s failure to genuinely commit to peace initiatives.
M23 claims to act in defense of the ethnic Tutsi community within the DRC, a narrative they have promoted since their previous control of Goma in 2012. Following a hiatus, the group resurged in late 2021, leveraging increased support from Rwanda. With one-third of North Kivu’s population already displaced, the offensive poses a serious risk to the humanitarian situation in the region, further complicating an already dire crisis.
The M23 rebel group is rooted in the fallout from the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which sparked a series of conflicts in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The situation has remained precarious with various rebel factions vying for control, influenced significantly by ethnic tensions and historical grievances. The current conflict in Goma exemplifies longstanding regional instability, exacerbated by external support, particularly from Rwanda for rebel movements like M23, which claim to defend Tutsi interests within the DRC.
The claim by M23 to have captured Goma raises significant concerns regarding regional stability and humanitarian crises. The circumstances surrounding the rebel group’s advances have led to widespread displacement and violence, evoking memories of past conflicts in the region. The escalating situation necessitates urgent international attention to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian landscape and to address the underlying political tensions.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
