Thirteen soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in confrontations with M23 rebels. The South African military confirmed that nine of its soldiers lost their lives while assisting in repelling a rebel advance toward Goma, a city in eastern DR Congo. Additionally, three Malawian soldiers and one Uruguayan were also reported dead.
In response to the escalating violence, French President Emmanuel Macron has engaged in discussions with the leaders of both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, amid growing international calls for an end to hostilities.
The United Nations is evacuating all non-essential staff from Goma, which has a population of over one million, as fighting intensifies. A UN Security Council meeting originally scheduled for Monday regarding the clashes has been rescheduled for Sunday due to the urgent nature of the situation.
The M23 group has demanded that Congolese troops in Goma surrender to prevent further bloodshed. Tensions have escalated, particularly after M23 fighters killed a Congolese military governor visiting the frontline last Thursday. Earlier this month, the group captured the strategically important towns of Minova and Masisi.
During these developments, Macron reiterated his call for peace during conversations with both Congolese and Rwandan leaders on Saturday.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, urged the M23 to cease its advances and condemned any support from Rwanda for the group. Similarly, Angolan President Joao Lourenco, acting as the African Union’s mediator, denounced the “irresponsible actions by the M23 and its supporters,” calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect civilian lives.
Since the beginning of the year, fighting between the M23 and the Congolese army has escalated, leading to a surge in territory controlled by the rebels. The conflict has displaced over 400,000 people in 2024, as reported by the UN. Local leaders have stated that more than 200 civilians have been killed in areas captured by M23, with hospitals in Goma treating hundreds of injured.
Martin Gordon, an Anglican bishop in Goma, expressed in an interview that the prolonged fighting in the region has driven people to seek peace at any cost.
In light of the situation, numerous countries, including the UK, France, Germany, and the U.S., have urged their citizens to leave Goma. Human Rights Watch has raised alarms regarding the increasing risks faced by civilians as the Congolese army combats M23, accusing both sides of committing serious violations against innocent people.
The ongoing conflict is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Since 2021, M23 has gained control of significant territory in the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, displacing hundreds of thousands. Both the Congolese government and the UN have alleged that Rwanda supports the M23, although Rwandan authorities have neither confirmed nor denied these claims.
Rwanda has previously accused the Congolese government of collaborating with individuals responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide against ethnic Tutsis. The M23 emerged as a faction of another rebel group in 2012, supposedly to protect the Tutsi population in eastern DR Congo, which has historically faced persecution and discrimination. Critics argue that Rwanda uses the M23 to exploit eastern DR Congo’s rich mineral resources, including gold, cobalt, and tantalum.
Credit: BBC