GOMA, Congo — Recently, government forces in eastern Congo’s North Kivu and South Kivu provinces have regained control of several towns previously captured by armed groups, according to a spokesperson for the Congolese army. This recovery occurs even as fighting intensifies in other regions, with rebels gaining ground in some areas amidst the ongoing conflict.
The eastern part of Congo has been embroiled in conflict for decades, housing over 100 armed groups that compete for control over the mineral-rich territory close to the Rwandan border. This prolonged violence has resulted in one of the largest humanitarian crises worldwide, displacing more than 7 million individuals, with 100,000 people forced to flee in just this year alone.
According to the Congolese military, towns regained from the rebels had been under their control for several months. Notably, Ngungu, a strategic location in Masisi territory near Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, has seen a return to government oversight. However, some villages within Masisi, including its central area known as Masisi Center, remain under rebel influence.
“They (the rebels) have seen their activities thwarted by the FARDC (Congolese security forces),” stated Guillaume Ndjike Kaiko, the North Kivu army spokesperson. He also mentioned that other towns like Lumbishi, Ruzirantaka, Kamatale, Bitagata, and Kabingo have been recovered. “Across those areas, they have been pushed back,” Kaiko remarked, attributing these successes to a collaborative military operation involving commanders from both provinces.
The announcement of these reclaimed towns elicited mixed emotions from displaced villagers returning home, who expressed concerns about their safety amidst celebrations of their homecoming. “We are in Ngungu … but we continue to suffer because the security is not well established,” shared resident Nsabimana Alexis. He added, “People continue to die; we just buried someone 30 minutes ago.”
Ongoing clashes between Congolese forces and the rebels have caused numerous villages to become inaccessible, severely limiting aid access. The most prominent rebel group in the region, M23, is believed by the Congolese government and United Nations experts to receive support from Rwanda, a claim that Rwanda has denied.
In Masisi, the increasing number of displaced persons has placed overwhelming pressure on camps and aid facilities, according to French humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF). “We are doing our best to respond to this situation. But the severe lack of humanitarian responders in the area is making things difficult,” said Romain Briey, the MSF coordinator in Masisi.
