M23 Insurgents Capture Regions of Goma, Plunging Somali Entrepreneurs into Uncertainty
In a corner of the world often scarred by turmoil, the picturesque city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo finds itself shrouded in a thick cloud of violence once more. The relentless guns and recrudescent battles between the M23 insurgent faction and national forces have thrust the city into a maelstrom of chaos, displacing countless souls and quaking the very foundation of livelihoods and trade.
The toll is bitter: 17 lives snuffed out, over 300 wounded, and a multitude, including Somali entrepreneurs, now confined to their homes. Every new day in Goma is a gamble with fate—a humanitarian disaster brooding ominously over its fragile existence.
Reports from residents echo with tales of ceaseless gunshots and booming explosions, with some townsfolk marooned since a fraught Sunday. Lucie, a beleaguered Goma inhabitant sealed away inside, whispers through the tension-riddled air, “We can’t leave. Gunfire is constant outside.” Meanwhile, snippets of video supplied by the hearty locals depict M23 fighters staking claims on vital thoroughfares, stoking civilian dread further. The rebels assert dominion over Goma, yet the Congolese government avows it holds sway over strategic alcoves, notably the cherished airport.
Notably caught in this upheaval are the industrious Somali traders, linchpins in Goma’s economic tapestry. Their quintessential endeavors halted, businesses shuttered, they seek asylum in the tenuous safety of their abodes amidst the burgeoning conflict.
Within Goma’s commercial fabric, the Somali enclave had gradually carved a niche, primarily in the fuel trade and bulk exports. The sudden jolt of violence, however, has choked this economic vein. “Fuel trade is the backbone of our businesses, but everything has stopped,” shares Subeyr Haji, a Somali entrepreneur, bitterly reflecting on dreams deferred.
Haji candidly recounts the chilling tale of M23 insurgents swooping into Goma following the dissolution of certain army units. “Some soldiers surrendered, others resisted leading to fierce fights,” he recounted to the BBC. Surrounded by the embers of Somali businesses forlornly shut, Haji makes a crucial observation, “No Somali casualties reported so far. We face the same adversity as everyone in Goma.”
The clampdown on Goma’s engine of mobility—the airport—has stranded Somali traders, banishing any hopes of an easy escape or the facilitation of goods movement.
This unraveling saga of Goma has pierced the consciousness of global observers. Kenyan President William Ruto, steering the East African Community ship, has called loudly for the guns to fall silent. On Monday, he set plans for an emergency summit, tentatively engaging the laconic leaders of both DR Congo and Rwanda.
Ruto’s voice resonated across the continental airwaves, imploring regional figureheads to galvanize dialogue and craft peace. “This is a critical moment for the region. We must work together,” he emphasized, a call to arms for tranquility.
Since rekindling their fervor in 2021, the M23 rebels have gradually amassed significant expanses in the mineral-laden east of DR Congo. Their unyielding march on Goma has not just punctuated the unrest but incited displacement, scattering hundreds of thousands adrift like leaves in a tempest.
The United Nations refugee body estimates that the escape of more than 400,000 individuals from North and South Kivu provinces since early 2025 paints a dire portrait. For many, this dance of fleeing—the quivering steps of survival—is a tired, repeated rhythm. “This is the fourth time I’ve fled from M23,” sighs Alice Feza, a weary displaced soul. “I don’t know how much more I can take.”
With humanitarian lanes ripped bare, and vital connections to Goma severed, the relief efforts stumble. The UN rings the warning bell that uncurbed aid blockages and the inability to evacuate vulnerable residents will only exacerbate the humanitarian predicaments.
Although M23 paints a triumphant sepia-toned picture of their grasp on Goma, the Congolese government counters with claims of safeguarding surgical points, the airport among them. Yet, caught in this seesaw of power, the residents and captains of commerce stare down an indeterminate future.
With files from the BBC Somali Service
Report By Axadle Desktop
