Thousands flee in eastern DR Congo as M23 rebels advance near Goma https://t.co/zsL5dmj4Wz
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 8, 2024
Thousands of people are fleeing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
...formerly the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Zaire, and who knows what else, not to be confused with the Brazzaville Congo aka Republic of Congo, which is much smaller and much more (for Africa) stable. DRC gave the world Patrice Lumumba and Joseph Mobutu, followed by years of tedious civil war. Its principle industry seems to be the production of corpses. With a population of about 74 million it has lots of raw material...
as fighting intensifies between the Congolese army and the M23 gang.
| ...known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army. Founded in 2012 as a Rwandan Tutsi sock puppet, which no doubt seemed a good idea at the time, but in less than a year the Congolese army defeated them, and then Rwanda publicly stepped back in response to international pressure. M23 started acting up again in late 2022, possibly again at Rwandan instigation... |
The Congolese army and United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
peacekeepers have been struggling to contain M23’s advance. And as fighting continues, thousands of those who fled Sake have arrived in Bulengo, about 10km (six miles) west of Goma.
Thousands are "on the road right now", trying to escape the violence and get to Goma, Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani said, reporting from Bulengo on Wednesday.
"They have been fighting for a week right now, but this morning, again, rebels have tried to take over the main city," he explained.
It remains unclear whether the army or the rebels are now controlling the area, Uaykani added.
"The situation in Sake is very bad with heavy fighting between soldiers and M23 rebels. They have attacked with heavy guns and bombs fell on the city ... this is why we are leaving for Goma," Justin Musau, a displaced person from Sake, told Al Jazeera.
’TARGETING GOMA’
In a region already plagued with militia violence, M23 rebels launched a major new offensive in March 2022, sparking a conflict that has led to military intervention and mediation efforts by East African regional leaders. They brokered a ceasefire last year but it has been repeatedly violated.
Clashes between the rebels, army forces and self-defence groups that support them have escalated recently, forcing entire communities in Masisi and Rutshuru territories to flee to perceived areas of greater safety on the outskirts of Goma.
Meanwhile in Goma on Wednesday, a rocket landed near a university. There were no casualties from the attack, which blasted a crater into an area of open ground in the Lac Vert neighbourhood northwest of Goma, but it underscored the potential threat to the city of approximately two million people.
The DRC government this week promised that it would not let Goma, situated close to the border with Rwanda, fall into M23 hands. The gang briefly overran North Kivu province in 2012.
On Wednesday, M23 said in a statement that this was not its goal and described its actions as "defensive manoeuvres".
The DRC, Western powers and a UN expert group said the Tutsi-led rebel group is supported by Rwanda. Rwanda has denied all involvement, but the accusations have led to a diplomatic crisis in the region.
42,000 DISPLACED
Civilians have borne the brunt of the violence in the restive east, with many killed in bombings and reprisal attacks.
About 42,000 people have been displaced from Masisi alone since February 2, the UN’s humanitarian office OCHA said on Tuesday.
M23 made major advances in the town of Mweso last month, bringing the conflict even closer to Goma, which is about 100km (62 miles) away.
Related:
M23 rebels: 2024-01-27 DRC rebel group kills at least 19 people in attack on eastern town
M23 rebels: 2024-01-17 Rwanda says it kills Congolese soldier, arrests two more
M23 rebels: 2024-01-02 DRC: Protests erupt in Goma as opposition challenges election results
M23 rebels: 2024-01-27 DRC rebel group kills at least 19 people in attack on eastern town
M23 rebels: 2024-01-17 Rwanda says it kills Congolese soldier, arrests two more
M23 rebels: 2024-01-02 DRC: Protests erupt in Goma as opposition challenges election results