In the province of North Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Rwandan-backed M23 militias have today captured the provincial capital of Goma. The offensive began last Thursday with the capture of the strategically important town of Sake, near Goma. In addition, the militarily well-equipped militias have conquered the first towns in the neighbouring province of South Kivu. Misereor partner organisations in Goma report fierce fighting between the M23 militias and the Congolese army (FARDC). The FARDC has now withdrawn and the airport in Goma is closed.
"The current situation in and around Goma is chaotic," reports Astrid Meyer, Misereor expert for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Our partner organisations in Goma are reporting despair and panic among the population. Many of our partners have had to suspend their activities due to the outbreak of violence and the approaching fighting. International staff have been evacuated and urgently needed aid has been cancelled," explains Meyer.
Goma in a state of emergency
Since the beginning of the year, over 400,000 people have fled the fighting in North and South Kivu, with a total of 2.8 million people displaced in North Kivu. Following the capture of the city of Sake last Thursday, more refugees have made their way to the completely overcrowded city of Goma. Due to the occupation of Goma, the situation of the refugees is more dramatic than ever. "The electricity and water supply in Goma has collapsed due to the fighting, and the telephone network is no longer working. People's lives are in acute danger," reports Gilbert Dhego, head of the partner organisation Caritas-Goma.
Stopping violence with targeted sanctions
"Rwanda's aggressive behaviour in eastern Congo must be condemned in no uncertain terms and sanctioned by all political means. The people in eastern Congo feel more abandoned than ever - both by their own government and by the international community," said Meyer. "The people are also hoping for more intervention and help from Germany and Europe. Together with our Congolese partner organisations, Misereor is calling on the German government to use all political levers to stop the offensive of the M23 militias and achieve an arms freeze. The political leaders in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo must be urgently called upon to negotiate."
Long-standing conflict in border region
The situation in the crisis-ridden east of the country has come to a head with the strengthening of the M23 militias since November 2022. The M23 militias are fighting against the Congolese army and have taken control of important resource areas in the province of North Kivu and established parallel structures. According to UN reports, the M23 militias are financed and organised from Rwanda. The peace dialogue between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda coordinated by Angola has failed.
