GOMA, Congo — The end of one of the most lethal and enigmatic conflicts in the world remains uncertain, much like the future of the significant United Nations peacekeeping force that was deployed to manage it.
Congo continues to seek stability in its mineral-rich eastern region, a place that draws considerable global economic interest. However, ongoing political tensions have led the Congolese government to demand the exit of the long-standing U.N. peacekeeping mission.
If the peacekeepers withdraw, millions of displaced civilians in a region already overwhelmed by numerous armed groups—including one affiliated with the Islamic State—would find themselves even more vulnerable. Yet, mounting frustration with the U.N. forces has spurred many Congolese citizens to also call for their departure.
During a rare visit and night patrol with the U.N. force, known as MONUSCO, it became clear that the situation on the ground is troubling. Having operated in the country for over two decades with a deployment of 14,000 troops, MONUSCO patrols an area that feels disconnected from the authority of the Congolese government. With dirt roads turning to treacherous mud during monsoon rains, residents frequently feel abandoned and insecure, leading some to form self-defense militias to protect themselves.
In the frontline town of Sake, roughly 14 miles from Goma, militia members spoke about their struggles to defend local populations against the M23 group, which has been known for its sniper attacks from the surrounding hills. The M23 is believed to be supported by Rwanda, a claim the Rwandan government denies. The presence of Rwandan forces, estimated at around 4,000 by U.N. experts, has intensified fears of war from the Congolese government.
Despite a July truce facilitated by the United States and Angola that lessened direct confrontation between Rwandan and Congolese forces, clashes between the M23 and other local militias persist. “We are fighting the enemy who is a foreigner in our country. They want to take Congo,” asserted a militia fighter named Amini Bauma.
Sake remains one of the few key access routes into Goma still under the government’s control, but ongoing violent clashes have forced many residents to flee, resulting in a ghost town of boarded-up homes. In the summer, around 160 civilians and soldiers treated at Sake’s military hospital predominantly suffered from gunshot wounds, according to nurse Omar Kalamo. In August, an explosion rocked the area, emphasizing the ongoing danger.
Some individuals who escaped are now venturing back, discovering nothing left of safety elsewhere. Bitakuya Buhesha returned to find his home destroyed but preferred to endure the gunfire instead of living in overcrowded displacement camps that have reportedly been compromised by fighters. “We’ve waited a long time and we don’t know whether our army will win this war or if it will be the M23 rebels,” he commented.
Many Congolese citizens, once hopeful about the U.N. peacekeeping force, have grown increasingly disillusioned, with numerous protests, some turning violent, directed at the soldiers in recent years. In response to escalating violence, the U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed the gradual drawdown of MONUSCO, aiming to delegate security responsibilities back to the Congolese government by December. However, the rising violence has led to the postponement of this withdrawal.
Recently, peacekeepers in armored vehicles arrived at their base in the hills close to Goma, surrounded by razor wire and sandbags. Troops manned a machine gun aimed toward possible rebel threats, as recent confrontations between the Congolese army and M23 came alarmingly close to their location.
The U.N. mission is attempting innovative strategies to combat the persistent threat posed by armed groups. Last year, it established new bases between the frontlines and the approximately 600,000 displaced individuals living in makeshift shelters around Goma. Additionally, MONUSCO is actively training Congolese forces to help fill the security gap once the U.N. force departs.
According to Brig. General Ranjan Mahajan, commander of the U.N.’s center sector in North Kivu province, if the armed groups initiate attacks against civilians, MONUSCO may shift its focus from defensive to offensive operations. However, the U.N. identified the security challenges they face as “multiple and multifaceted,” indicating that officially only one brigade is expected to take offensive measures, specifically in the Beni area, where violent encounters occur frequently. Overall, the force remains largely defensive, collaborating with Congolese and other military forces.
Some locals contend that these efforts are insufficient, claiming that MONUSCO’s presence does little to deter attacks. “You can see that MONUSCO is there, but that’s in name only … People are dying, but it does nothing,” declared a displaced individual named Maombie Aline.
International authorities have cautioned that the U.N. force’s withdrawal would create a significant security vacuum. Over 80% of Congo’s seven million displaced people currently reside in areas secured by the U.N., as reported by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
In a recent statement, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed concerns that the peacekeeping force’s exit from South Kivu province in June resulted in critical security gaps and urged the Security Council to halt further withdrawals until a mitigation plan is established. The U.S. plays a pivotal role in the funding of MONUSCO.
Congolese Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya announced that a new schedule for the withdrawal of MONUSCO would be developed, though he did not provide specific details. He mentioned that a joint evaluation was underway between government personnel and U.N. officials.
The streets of Goma are rife with armed individuals, both domestic and foreign. In addition to the 14,000 U.N. troops and an undetermined number of Congolese soldiers, there are roughly 1,000 foreign mercenaries, along with local militias and a regional Southern African force. Additionally, a newly deployed East African force was recently dismissed due to its perceived inadequacies.
As Onesphore Sematumba, a researcher for the International Crisis Group, observed, “It’s a military jungle. There are many actors, but everyone has their own agenda … they can’t make a difference because they are divided.”
Experts indicate that the ongoing violence is partly fueled by global interest in eastern Congo’s rich mineral resources. As the world’s largest producer of cobalt—a crucial component in lithium-ion batteries—Congo also boasts significant reserves of gold, diamonds, and copper.
The M23’s occupation of Rubaya, a town rich in tantalum deposits essential for electronics, has raised alarm. This area reportedly provides over 15% of the global tantalum supply, and current estimates suggest it generates about $300,000 monthly for the M23. U.N. experts have revealed that some minerals from Rubaya have been illicitly exported across the Rwandan border.
According to analyst Darren Davids with the Economist Intelligence Unit, Rwanda profits from the minerals taken from eastern Congo, misrepresenting them as conflict-free. Both U.N. and U.S. reports document these allegations. Yet, the international community shows reluctance to confront Rwanda about the turmoil, as it has become a vital trade partner amid rising competition for minerals.
In the meantime, Rwandan-backed insurgents are accused of undermining and intimidating the U.N. mission to expand their territorial control, and many anticipate they would gain from the U.N. forces’ expected withdrawal. Neither the Rwandan government nor the M23 has responded to requests for comment.