As the sun reluctantly rose over Goma, painting the sky in hues tinged with both hope and despair, the air was thick with an unsettling silence. Was this the calm after the storm or merely an interlude before the next tempest? The Red Cross team moved purposefully, carrying the staggering weight of grief as they began the solemn task of laying to rest the victims of clashes between the M23 rebels and the Congolese army. At the ITIG Cemetery, shadows of bereavement stretched long over the ground that holds more stories than it should.
Where do we begin to comprehend such tragedy? Just yesterday, a ceasefire was declared by the M23 rebels who now loosely control Goma, yet residents live with whispers of sporadic gunfire and unchecked looting. It’s a tenuous peace, teetering on the edge of fragility.
In the palpable tension of this ceasefire, the city finds itself scrambling, not just to bury the physical reminders of last week’s horrors, over 2,000 lost souls, but to preserve the health of those remaining. Morgues overflow as mourning pours into the streets. How does a community heal when continuously confronted by reminders of loss?
The United Nations offers grim statistics: 900 deceased, nearly 3,000 wounded. A painful contrast when juxtaposed with local reports, leading many to question discrepancies that seem immune to resolution, perhaps lost amid the chaos of war.
The aftermath is brutal, with a civilian toll unfurling slowly, like gossamer threads tangled in agony. Julienne Zaina Barabara, from the Katoyi area, faced unimaginable devastation. Her story echoes countless others, punctuated by the poignant loss of a child and the unsettling reality of her other offspring battling wounds of shrapnel.
“We took them all to hospital, where one of them died after three hours. The other two are still receiving treatment. They had scans, and one still has shrapnel in his head,” Julienne reflects, her voice a blend of lament and resilience.
Humanitarian organizations rush to assist, navigating the logistics of compassion as they help with the macabre task of managing morgues and ensuring dignified farewells amidst disease concerns. Myriam Favier, leading the International Committee of the Red Cross sub-delegation in Goma, emphasizes this “race against time.” The city’s land is an unyielding challenge, scarce and sought after with an urgency that these dire conditions dire.
Conflicts stir fear of further regional conflict; the upheaval forcibly displaced approximately 700,000 individuals, a staggering tally highlighted by the World Food Programme. Yet, even as the world watches, the calamity seems to multiply unchecked.
Bruno Lemarquis, U.N.’s aid figurehead in Congo, has made impassioned pleas for Goma’s airport to reopen, a critical avenue for humanitarian aid to reach those ensnared by conflict. “These families have suffered so much in this war: no food, no passable roads,” shares Faustin Habimana, a motorcyclist from Kivumba, his words embodying the absence of normalcy.
Indeed, as calm once again graces Goma’s weary streets, daily life resurfaces with a tentative spirit. In the shadow of a razed petrol station, street vendors in Katoyi conduct their trade. Scenes of everyday persistence intersect with stark reminders of recent violence — charred vehicles, structures marred by battle.
Congo’s Doubts about Rebels
Within the complex layers of Goma’s plight, the M23 rebel alliance pledges order. It insists Bukavu will remain untouched even as contradictory signals from rebel ranks fuel speculation about brewing internal discord. Skepticism from Congolese officials such as Sylvain Ekenge, mirrored by government spokesperson Muyaya, casts doubt on an elusive truce. They view ceasefire claims with caution, fearing tactical retreats poised for regrouping.
The U.N. schedules an urgent Human Rights Council session, a platform for probing the crisis. Meanwhile, as regional leaders prepare to convene in Tanzania, the anticipation of diplomatic maneuvering rises. Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame affirms his attendance, yet uncertainty lingers over Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi’s participation.
In the corridors of politics, rezoning sanctions against Rwanda are called for, marking another chapter in the turbulent narrative where accusations of plundering minerals entwine with claims of self-defense and protection of Tutsi ethnicity.
The narrative of Goma, etched with resilience amidst ruin, continues as we grapple with complex questions of justice, survival, and the indomitable will of humanity.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring
