Goma is not only a major economic hub but also a critical gateway for humanitarian aid to reach the eastern parts of the DRC, which have long been plagued by instability. The M23 rebels, primarily composed of Tutsi fighters, resurfaced in late 2021 after years of dormancy, citing grievances with the Congolese government.
The renewed fighting has displaced tens of thousands, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in a region hosting millions of internally displaced people. The influx of refugees is overwhelming local aid agencies, which are struggling with limited resources to provide food, shelter, and medical care to those affected.
After an emergency meeting late Sunday, the UN Security Council issued a statement calling on the M23 to immediately reverse its advances. Other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and France, have also condemned the rebel push.
“The members of the Security Council condemned the ongoing flagrant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” the UN statement added, referring to Congo’s formal name, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Congolese government officials have said the country is “in a war situation” and accused Rwanda of committing “a frontal aggression (and) a declaration of war.” Congo cut ties with Rwanda over the weekend as recent attempts at diplomatic talks between the two countries failed.
Rwanda has denied claims it has prolonged the conflict. Rwanda accuses Congo of enlisting and fighting alongside Hutu rebels and former militiamen responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group formed by the Hutus who fled to Congo after the killings.
This development underscores the pressing need for long-term solutions to address the root causes of the conflict, including governance issues, ethnic tensions, and the exploitation of the region’s rich natural resources, which have historically fueled violence.
