GOMA, Congo — Recent reports from the U.N. and local sources indicate that Rwandan-backed rebels controlling parts of eastern Congo have forcibly shut down settlement camps, resulting in the displacement of over 110,000 individuals in just a few days. The M23 rebels, who are the most notable among the numerous armed groups competing for dominance in Congo’s resource-rich eastern region, escalated the conflict significantly when they seized Goma, the largest city in the area, in late January. This military advance has reportedly resulted in around 2,000 fatalities in and around Goma, as per statements from Congolese officials.
M23 issued a 72-hour mandate for displaced individuals to vacate the settlement camps and return to their origin villages, as shared by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in a briefing. The rebels claimed that their foremost objective was to restore normalcy to the city.
While the M23 later stated that these returns should take place voluntarily, OCHA reported that over 110,000 displaced individuals have departed from the camps towards remote villages, which aid organizations warn are more difficult to access for humanitarian assistance. Journalists have observed numerous displaced families at settlement camps in Goma disassembling their makeshift shelters and gathering whatever belongings they have left.
“I’m shocked that we are being forced to leave when I have nothing to provide for my children,” expressed Sibomana Safari, who was departing from the Bulengo displacement camp. “We’re all heading out without any support, and I don’t know how we’re going to survive,” he added despairingly.
Due to the M23’s offensive, at least 500,000 individuals have been displaced in this area, according to the Forum of International Non-Governmental Organisations. Before the escalation of violence on February 26, Goma had been home to nearly a million displaced individuals.
“The current situation is profoundly alarming,” remarked Oonagh Curry, an emergency coordinator for the French medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). “The circumstances are very uncertain. It’s vital to recognize that a sudden influx of displaced populations can exacerbate an already critical humanitarian crisis,” she stated.
One individual, Kwimana Sifa, who was also leaving the Bulengo camp, lamented his lack of options after his home fell victim to bombing. “It would be preferable to leave us here. Though we are short on food, at least we have some shelter here,” Sifa stated, visibly distraught. “All we desire is peace and nothing more.”
Despite the rebels announcing a unilateral ceasefire the previous week, locals are still reporting ongoing skirmishes between M23 and government forces as the rebels advance toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. On Tuesday, the rebels threatened to take action in response to what they claimed were ongoing killings in Bukavu, located roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) beyond their current control.
“The situation in Bukavu is worsening alarmingly. Our fellow citizens continue to be killed,” warned M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka via social media platform X. “If these atrocities continue, we will take the necessary actions to eliminate the threat at its root and safeguard our people,” he asserted.
