Last week, conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) intensified as the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group seized control of Goma — the largest city of the North Kivu province — during a rapid military advance through the eastern part of the country. According to the BBC, at least 773 people have been killed, and thousands more have been displaced since this newest escalation of the confrontation. Both the United Nations (U.N.) and the South African Development Committee (SADC) have deployed peacekeepers to help DRC’s military stop M23 forces, but support from Rwanda has empowered the rebels to continue their advance. The humanitarian situation is expected to worsen as fighting could halt critical resource flow into Goma, home to over one million residents. Fearing that the assault started by M23 could lead to a regional catastrophe, the international community has been pushing for an immediate end to the conflict.
According to BBC, M23 leaders have expressed intentions to continue their military campaign until they reach the capital, Kinshasa. U.N. agencies identified Rwandan support for the M23 offensive and have called for an end to the conflict, emphasizing how quickly the humanitarian situation is deteriorating. Fighting between M23 and Congolese forces has already resulted in thousands of civilian casualties. World Food Programme (WFP) Spokesperson Shelley Thakral warns that damage to infrastructure could lead to food and water shortages in Goma. As the offensive continues, Deputy Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) Vivian van de Perre told UN News that the crisis in DRC requires “urgent and coordinated international action” to avoid a humanitarian disaster.
While the international community has condemned foreign military advancements on DRC soil, the humanitarian crisis currently underway requires a greater level of intervention. Goma and surrounding areas affected by the conflict need imminent support from international aid agencies for critical resources like food, water, and medical supplies. In addition to addressing the need for more humanitarian aid, regional forces in East Africa must continue putting pressure on DRC and Rwanda for a ceasefire. Al Jazeera reported that Kenya was brokering peace talks between the two countries last Wednesday, which is a crucial step to humanitarian relief in the region as a pause in fighting would allow aid to reach those affected. Finally, international organizations like the U.N. Security Council and the SADC need to explicitly address the role Rwandan support has played in the M23 advancement. Stopping Rwandan support would help prevent the group from further violations of DRC’s sovereignty.
The current spike in violence in eastern DRC is part of a three-decade-long period of instability stemming from a combination of factors including armed conflict, public health crises, and ethnic disputes. From 1996-2003, DRC experienced two major regional wars and inherited many of the ethnic controversies that resulted from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, leading to unprecedented levels of civilian suffering in the region. M23 is an insurgency group that was founded in 2012. The international community had successfully pressured Rwanda to stop its support in 2013, allowing the DRC and the UN to regain control of the region. However, the group has regained strength since 2022 as U.N. experts find evidence of direct support from the Rwandan military in the form of personnel and weapons. Years of insecurity have pushed DRC into one of the worst humanitarian crises in world history, causing civilians to suffer from chronic resource shortages, widespread disease, and constant violence at the hands of militant groups.
The Council on Foreign Relations – a think-tank dedicated to tracking global conflicts and offering insight into resolutions – finds that six million people have died and over seven million more have been displaced as a result of 30 years of conflict among Rwandan, Congolese, and rebel forces in eastern DRC. The most recent surge in violence in eastern DRC continues to devastate the already fragile humanitarian situation, as civilians who aren’t facing direct military violence are susceptible to hunger, disease, and displacement. Considering eastern DRC’s history of persistent war and civilian suffering, international agencies and regional governments must jointly demand an immediate end to violence and prioritize humanitarian aid efforts.
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