DAKAR, Senegal — Rebel forces, with the backing of Rwanda, have recently taken control of Goma, a crucial city in eastern Congo, situated in a region abundant with untapped mineral wealth valued at trillions of dollars.
This development signifies a significant intensification of one of Africa’s longest-standing conflicts, posing an imminent threat to the worsening humanitarian situation in the area.
Following their capture of Goma earlier this week, the rebels have continued to expand their influence throughout nearby regions and declared plans to advance toward the capital, Kinshasa, located nearly 1,000 miles (about 1,600 kilometers) away.
Aid organizations have warned that more than 2 million inhabitants of Goma, including about one million already displaced by ongoing violence, are at risk of severe humanitarian fallout.
The United Nations has raised alarms over reports of executions and acts of sexual violence committed by the rebels. With hospitals overwhelmed, the World Health Organization reported that more than 2,000 individuals have been injured in the conflict.
Understanding the conflict:
The M23 Group is one of around 100 armed factions vying for dominance in eastern Congo, a region plagued by decades of conflict.
Primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis who struggled to integrate into the Congolese military, the M23 led a failed rebellion against the Congolese government in 2012, remaining inactive for about ten years before resurfacing in 2022.