GOMA, Congo — Rebels backed by Rwanda, who recently took control of the eastern Congolese city of Goma, organized a rally at the city stadium on Thursday to reassure residents and promote their governance. As growing international attention intensifies, the M23 rebels attempt to gain public support by assuring safety and order in the city.
Corneille Nangaa, the political leader of the M23, addressed a large crowd at the stadium, declaring that Goma had been “liberated and sanitized,” and introduced new administrative leaders. “I ask you to sleep well because we bring you security; this is our priority,” he stated. He also announced that schools would reopen the following week and urged displaced individuals to return to their homes, insisting on a restoration of normalcy in the city.
According to U.N. experts, the M23 is supported by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops. This group stands out amidst over 100 armed factions currently active in eastern Congo, a region rich in resources vital to global technology supply chains. Analysts note that, unlike in their previous short-lived capture of Goma in 2012, the M23 now seems keen on assuming political power and demonstrating governance capabilities.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expressed concern about disruptions at a high-security medical laboratory in Goma, vital for monitoring infectious diseases including Ebola, due to the ongoing rebellion. Yap Boum II, a manager at the agency, emphasized the importance of decentralizing lab capacities in the region as sample collection for diseases like mpox has been interrupted, prompting fears of further outbreaks as patients flee treatment centers.
After seizing Goma, the rebels announced a unilateral ceasefire and claimed they had ceased territorial expansion. Nonetheless, they managed to capture another town in a resource-rich area, intensifying concerns. The Congolese government criticized the declared ceasefire as “false communication,” while the United Nations reported ongoing heavy conflict with Congolese forces in various regions.
Safety for displaced persons remains a critical issue, with humanitarian organizations raising alarms about their welfare in Goma. The city, prior to the rebel takeover, served as a crucial hub for more than 6 million individuals displaced by ongoing conflict in the area.
Among the attendees at the rally, Goma resident Emmanuel Kakule expressed his unease about the situation. “I came to listen to their project,” said the 26-year-old. “I don’t know if I’m convinced. … We’re still afraid.”
In a related development, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera announced that preparations for the withdrawal of Malawian peacekeeping troops from eastern Congo have begun. This decision follows the deaths of several Malawian and South African soldiers within a regional peacekeeping force supporting the Congolese army.
Chakwera indicated that the withdrawal would honor the rebels’ declared ceasefire and aim to facilitate negotiations for long-term peace; however, he did not specify when the Malawian troops would be pulled out.
