On January 27, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels claimed the takeover of Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The rebels have captured the city’s airport, as well as the border with Rwanda. Many Congolese people have fled to Goma from M23’s presence in other parts of the region in the past, however, after the recent takeover, nearly half a million people have now fled the city. Some humanitarian organizations, such as Mercy Corps, have relocated their staff due to the dangers of the takeover.
Anadolu Ajansi reports that 17 peacekeepers have been killed in clashes with rebels, and CNN reports that the UN has called on M23 to reverse its advances. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, told CNN that fighters had reportedly raped civilians, and that there were many dead bodies in the streets.
M23, or the March 23 Movement, is made up of Tutsi fighters who claim to be fighting for the rights of DRC’s Tutsi minority. While there are many armed groups in the region, M23 is one of the strongest. One major reason for that is Rwanda’s support for M23. In June 2024, an investigation commissioned by the UN Security Council revealed that the DRC’s neighbor, Rwanda, has actively backed this armed group, with the Rwanda Defence Force identified as having ‘de facto’ control over M23.
The conflict between M23 and the DRC’s government has caused immense suffering for the people of the DRC. Both M23 and Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have committed grave war crimes and violations of international law, including unlawful killings and sexual violence. DRC’s crisis has left over 7 million people internally displaced, accounting for 10 percent of the world’s internally displaced people (IDPs).
In October 2024, Peace News Network (PNN) spoke to displaced civilians in Goma. The civilians described daily hardships such as issues getting food, and bombings by M23. One civilian told PNN “I would agree that peace has returned to the Congo when we hear that M23 and the FDLR are no longer in the country.”
When PNN spoke to people in Goma in March 2023, many believed that sought-after minerals, especially cobalt, used in smartphones and emerging green technology, were fueling the conflict. They called it an “economic war.” Experts on the region stressed the need to enforce any international agreements intended to ensure that the mining of cobalt and other minerals is done responsibly, with calls for international technology companies to vet their supply chains more rigorously.
Analysts told Reuters that M23’s recent gains in DRC are likely to boost the group’s illegal mining revenues. Gregory Mthembu-Salter, director of Phuzumoya Consulting, said that Lumbishi and its gold mines are “likely to prove a significant source of revenue for M23.” Reuters reported that in 2023, UAE declared importing around $885 million in gold from Rwanda, a 75 percent jump from the previous five-year average.
Since the end of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, Kigali has been deeply involved in the DRC. The First and Second Congo Wars— which led to millions of deaths and involved many other African countries— were both caused by Rwandan invasions of Congolese territory, and led to the current crisis. During the 2023 Congolese elections, President Félix Tshisekedi threatened to invade Rwanda in retaliation, which was met with reciprocated threats by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
To learn more about the history of the DRC’s conflict, and the challenges to peace in the country, read PNN’s February 2024 article about its legacy of failed peace processes. You can also view our September 2024 article on how Congolese refugees in Rwanda imagine a peaceful agrarian future with their Rwandan neighbors. To learn how former combatants are laying down their arms to build peace in other parts of DRC, read here.
Keywords: Goma, DRC, takeover, capture, M23 rebels, M23, rebels, peace, conflict, war, Congo, Rwanda, Tutsis
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
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