The United Nations has reported a staggering loss of nearly 3,000 lives in Goma, a major city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following its capture by rebel forces after intense battles with the Congolese army. Vivian van de Perre, deputy head of the UN mission in the DRC, revealed that approximately 2,000 bodies have been retrieved from Goma’s streets in recent days, with an additional 900 still held in hospital morgues.
Speaking via video call from Goma, a city with a population of about 2 million, van de Perre warned, “We expect this number to go up,” noting the presence of numerous decomposing bodies in various parts of the city, signaling the scale of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The rebel coalition, known as the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 armed group, declared a ceasefire on Tuesday, citing the humanitarian crisis they attribute to the DRC government. However, the Congolese government dismissed this as “false communication,” and reports indicate that heavy fighting persists, particularly in South Kivu province.
The DRC, home to over 100 million people, has long been plagued by violence fueled by ethnic conflicts and competition over its rich mineral resources, including coltan, essential for manufacturing electronics. This turmoil has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The M23, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis and backed by Rwanda, has been accused by the DRC, the United States, and UN experts of receiving support from its neighbor, a claim Rwanda denies, though it admits to having troops and missile systems in eastern Congo for security reasons. Since 2022, M23 has significantly expanded its control in North Kivu, a region bordering Rwanda and Uganda, known for its valuable mineral deposits.
Van de Perre expressed concern over the failure of the ceasefire, stating, “It appears that is not the case,” as fighting continues along key routes toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. She highlighted the rebels’ advance, now just 50 kilometers from Bukavu, and their recent capture of a town 100 kilometers away, raising fears of further territorial losses.
The potential loss of Bukavu’s Kavumu airport, crucial for civilian and humanitarian operations, is a major worry for the UN. Despite the AFC’s claims of having no intention to capture Bukavu, where many displaced from Goma have sought refuge, their actions suggest otherwise, with intentions to expand further, including toward the national capital, Kinshasa, over 930 miles away.
AFC spokesperson Victor Tesongo confirmed plans to establish a new administration in Goma and push deeper into South Kivu and toward Kinshasa. M23 leader Corneille Nangaa has openly declared ambitions to reach Kinshasa, stating, “We are going to fight until we get to Kinshasa. We have come to Goma to stay; we are not going to withdraw. We are going to move forward from Goma to Bukavu … up to Kinshasa.”
In Goma, the rebels are solidifying their grip, controlling all exit routes and the airport, which remains closed. The Congolese government, while not officially acknowledging the city’s fall, has admitted to the rebels’ presence and appointed a new military governor for North Kivu, describing the region as being “under a state of siege.”
Van de Perre underscored the dire situation, noting, “The escalating violence has led to immense human suffering, displacement, and a growing humanitarian crisis.” Currently, nearly 2,000 civilians are taking shelter at UN peacekeeping bases in Goma, illustrating the desperate conditions on the ground.
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