A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Goma, where more than 2,000 bodies remain unburied following the city’s capture by M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda. This was disclosed by Congo’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya.
Despite the rebel group declaring a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, sporadic violence and looting persist. Reports indicate civilians caught in crossfire, overwhelmed hospitals, and bodies lying in the streets.
The scale of the casualties underscores the severity of the conflict. Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo and the capital of North Kivu province, is a key economic hub due to its rich deposits of gold, coltan, and tin. According to the United Nations, at least 900 people were killed and nearly 3,000 injured in the fighting leading up to the city’s capture.
M23 is one of several rebel groups that have emerged in eastern Congo, where conflict has persisted since Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. While Rwanda denies supporting the Tutsi-led group, accusations persist. The renewed violence has deepened an already dire humanitarian crisis, with over 700,000 people displaced in Goma last month alone, according to the UN World Food Programme.
Both M23 and the Congolese military face accusations of human rights violations, including executions and sexual violence. Neither has responded to the allegations.
Aid organizations are struggling to manage burials and prevent disease outbreaks, hindered by a lack of burial space and power outages affecting morgue refrigeration. Myriam Favier of the International Committee of the Red Cross emphasized the urgency of the situation. Meanwhile, Bruno Lemarquis, the UN’s top aid official in Congo, has called for the reopening of Goma’s airport to facilitate humanitarian flights.
Despite the declared ceasefire, concerns remain. Reports suggest M23 fighters may be advancing toward Bukavu, South Kivu’s provincial capital, raising doubts about the ceasefire’s stability.