Goma, DR Congo: The Lingering Effects of Conflict Amidst a Humanitarian Crisis

Goma, DR Congo, faces ongoing turmoil after the M23 rebel group’s takeover, reminiscent of past conflicts. With over 8,500 casualties and a humanitarian crisis affecting 1.2 million, the situation remains dire. Daily life is severely disrupted, and crime has surged in the absence of government. Local hospitals struggle under the pressure, as the search for peace proves elusive amidst rising violence and instability.

GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, May 14 — The once-vibrant city of Goma, nestled beneath the towering Mount Nyiragongo, now faces a suffocating silence. Three months after the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group seized control, life here has been turned upside down. The city, home to over two million people, has found itself in a state of unsettling calm, but peace remains a distant hope.

The M23 made its move on January 27, capturing Goma, reminiscent of their earlier takeover in 2012. The ensuing conflict turned the city into a battleground, with neighborhoods subjected to relentless shelling. Official reports indicate that more than 8,500 people were killed, and nearly 5,600 injured during the assaults. Escalating violence also hit displacement camps, where casualties included pregnant women and newborns caught in the crossfire.

A so-called “humanitarian ceasefire” was proclaimed by M23 on February 4, yet hostilities persist throughout the North and South Kivu provinces. The rebel group has now taken Bukavu, South Kivu’s capital, while establishing a network of frontline positions in the region. Analysts express concern that this conflict phase might become more entrenched than past confrontations. Corneille Nangaa, former electoral chief now affiliated with M23’s political wing, has declared a mission to “liberate the entire country,” even eyeing the capital, Kinshasa.

With Goma under M23 control, a new kind of chaos has emerged. Gunfire has faded, but disturbances—both social and economic—have mushroomed. Once-bustling markets sit eerily empty as the banking system struggles under a torrid cash shortage. Crime is surging, particularly after dark, as M23 imposes checks and taxes in the absence of any functioning government.

The humanitarian toll is catastrophic. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 1.2 million individuals have been displaced in the Kivu provinces since the year began. Many of those who thought Goma was a safe haven now find themselves fleeing again, only to return to villages that have been wrecked, desolate and impassable.

As tensions escalated, M23 demanded the evacuation of major displacement camps in early February. Within hours, families left their tents, taking only what they could carry. Compounding their distress, many returned to homes that had been flattened, their lands scorched.

Just 27 kilometers from Goma lies Sake, which has been the epicenter of conflict since late 2023. Intense street battles between M23 and Congolese forces, supported by local militias, have devastated the town. Danger remains ever-present, with unexploded ordnance littering the countryside. Local resident Christian Kabuya noted, “We have found live shells in over ten locations,” highlighting the peril, especially for children who tragically fall victim to such hidden dangers.

In western Goma, the Ndosho Hospital stands as the last operational facility for treating the wounded, but it is overwhelmed. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) backs the hospital, which operates under immense pressure. Taoffic Mohamed Toure, an ICRC veteran, emphasized the complexity of the situation, stating, “The sheer number of actors and the recurring violence make eastern Congo one of the most challenging places we operate.”

As diplomatic discussions lose momentum and ceasefires dissolve, the people of eastern DRC remain trapped in a cycle of violence. In Goma, where the memory of lava-flowed landscapes is overshadowed by the long-lasting scars of war, the hope for a brighter future seems painfully elusive.

The situation in Goma, DRC, showcases the deep scars left by ongoing conflict, exacerbated by M23’s recent takeover. With casualties mounting, crime increasing, and humanitarian crises unfolding, the resilience of the local population continues to be tested. Diplomatic efforts remain stagnant, leaving the residents of Goma and surrounding areas to navigate a fraught and unstable existence. As history echoes through the streets of this city, the quest for peace remains an insurmountable challenge.

Original Source: english.news.cn