by Xinhua writers Alain Uaykani, Shi Yu

GOMA, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) awoke cautiously as urban life tentatively resumed under the shadow of ongoing conflict and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Shops reopened and streets stirred with activity despite looming uncertainty.

Goma, the capital of North Kivu province and a key regional hub, remains in turmoil after the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels on Jan. 26 asserted that they had taken control of the city, a claim the Congolese government has not recognized.

Scenes of destruction painted a grim picture: looted homes, ransacked military trucks and bullet casings scattered across the ground. The city has endured days of intense clashes between M23 fighters and the Congolese armed forces, leaving both material devastation and human loss.

Over the weekend, residents mobilized to clean up the city, clearing debris and abandoned military equipment, including damaged vehicles left behind in the fighting.

"There are more than 2,000 bodies to be buried," said Patrick Muyaya, spokesperson for the DRC government, on Monday evening during a press briefing in Kinshasa, the capital of the Central African country, referring to the aftermath of the hostilities in Goma.

Despite the conflict, some semblance of normalcy is returning. Since Thursday, water, electricity and internet services have been restored in the city, home to over one million residents and more than 700,000 displaced people. Meanwhile, the M23 rebels have announced plans to establish a "civilian administration" in Goma.

However, critical infrastructure remains disrupted. Goma International Airport, which previously handled domestic, international and UN flights, remains closed. Airline companies and humanitarian agencies report that warehouses storing emergency aid supplies have been looted.

In response to ongoing lawlessness, the M23 has conducted operations against looters in the city's outskirts, targeting those using weapons abandoned during the clashes.

Meanwhile, urban commerce is slowly reviving. Makeshift markets have reappeared along the streets, with trucks delivering goods to local vendors.

"We came from Minova with our trucks to supply food to Goma. We did not encounter any major security issues on the roads. It is a relief to see business resuming," said Samy Mumbere, a transporter from Minova, a town in South Kivu province that is also under M23's control.

However, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. The entry of armed groups into Goma has severely impacted medical services, with hospitals and clinics reaching full capacity, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Sunday.

Adding to the crisis, food and transportation costs have skyrocketed. According to ActionAid, a non-governmental organization, prices for essential goods like flour and oil have more than doubled since the outbreak of violence.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has expressed alarm over reports of the M23 advancing toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. However, in a statement issued late Monday, the rebels denied any plans to take control of Bukavu and announced a unilateral ceasefire starting Tuesday for humanitarian reasons.

The Congolese government has yet to respond to the ceasefire declaration.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced deep concern over the escalating violence and condemned M23's offensive. He called on the rebels to cease hostilities immediately and withdraw from occupied areas. According to UN estimates, more than 400,000 people have been displaced in eastern DRC since the beginning of the year.

A fresh round of peace talks is set to take place in the coming days, aimed at mediating tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, which have been exacerbated by the M23 conflict.

The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, a charge Kigali denies. Rwanda has accused the DRC army of supporting remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a group allegedly responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

On Friday, leaders from the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community (EAC) will convene for a joint summit to discuss the crisis. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are expected to attend.

Kenyan President William Ruto confirmed their participation on Monday, though neither Kinshasa nor Kigali has made an official announcement. Tshisekedi was notably absent from last week's virtual EAC summit.

Efforts to broker peace have repeatedly stalled. In December, a peace summit under the African Union-led Luanda Process, which was expected to bring Tshisekedi and Kagame to the negotiating table, was abruptly canceled.

Kinshasa has firmly rejected direct talks with M23 but has hinted at reviving the Nairobi Process, a peace initiative led by the EAC and facilitated by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. However, the DRC excluded M23 from the Nairobi Process in 2022.

Last Thursday, DRC Defense Minister Guy Kabombo dismissed any possibility of negotiations with M23, despite the rebels' claims of being "open to dialogue."

"I have ordered that all plans and instructions regarding any alleged dialogue with M23 terrorists be immediately burned," Kabombo told the armed forces. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)