Goma

Crisis at the Edge: A Tumultuous Tale from Eastern Congo A harrowing weekend in eastern Congo has silenced many voices, with the grim tally reaching at least 50 lives lost. The shadow of blame hovers between the government and the infamous M23 rebels, reportedly under Rwanda's aegis. These recent violent incidents have not only escalated the standing conflict but have sewn suspicion into the very fabric of regional peace initiatives. Yet again, the heart of the turmoil lies heavily on the city of Goma. Here, the strident…

In the restless heart of eastern Congo, a powerful storm brews. Last week, a majority of Goma, the bustling nucleus of the region, came under the control of rebels believed to be backed by neighboring Rwanda. The U.N. reports that even the city’s pivotal airport is now in rebel hands. Uncertainty hangs heavy as Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, joins the choir of international voices demanding a halt to hostilities. Yet, amidst the chaos, what truly drives this conflict that seems to defy resolution? Not since the 2012…

In a rare moment of calm amidst tumult, the sprawling city of Goma in eastern Congo found itself cloaked in a fragile cease-fire on Tuesday. Here in this beleaguered city, life took a tentative breath, allowing its weary inhabitants a chance to lay to rest nearly 2,000 souls claimed by the fierce struggle for control.While streets once echoed with the chaotic cadence of conflict, the eerie silence of today speaks volumes. The M23 rebels, bolstered by Rwandan backing, declared a cease-fire on Monday, and for the most part,…

In a delicate ballet of diplomacy, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are engaged in crucial negotiations hosted in the arid yet vibrant state of Qatar. These parleys hope to quell the turbulence in eastern Congo, where insurrectionists have wrested control over substantial tracts of land, casting a long shadow over the region’s already fraught stability. As Thursday dawned, officials positioned the talks as a pivotal juncture in what has become an elongated and…

UNICEF Denounces Horrific Crimes Against Children in Eastern Congo The grim reality of conflict often unearths the most harrowing stories, and eastern Congo stands as a stark testament to this truth. It's here that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently raised the alarm over the rampant abuse of children. But here's the wrenching part: this isn't just any news—it involves the unspeakable crime of child rape, allegedly by armed factions on both sides of the ongoing conflict. UNICEF's recent declaration…

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a fervent warning concerning the worsening humanitarian plight in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), with a pronounced emphasis on the tumultuous region of South Kivu province. As one might wonder, how did a place so inherently rich become a breeding ground for crises of such magnitude? Director-General Jean Kaseya, in an expression resembling both concern and urgency, articulated during a weekly virtual press briefing that the…

The return of the Banyene family to Sake, a town in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was anything but a jubilant homecoming. If one expected a warm embrace from familiar walls, a comforting breeze whispering stories from childhood pasts, they would find only disappointment. What greeted the Banyenes in January was desolation—a crumbling wall, a sagging metal roof, and the cold, metallic remnants of violence. It seems absurd to refer to such a bleak tableau as 'home.' Their yard, now more battlefield residue…

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…

Refugees heading to the CBCA Mugunga Church, which sits within the expansive Mugunga IDP camp in Goma, offer a snapshot of resilience amidst adversity. (Photo Credit: Michel Lunanga/AFP) Mary Ashuza, burdened by the enormity of circumstances beyond her control, walked westwards from Goma. In a scene far too common in the war-ravaged landscapes of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), she and her children clutched onto the remnants of their lives packed into bundles they could carry. From the farmsteads of…

At the Gisenyi border point of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a scene rife with tension unfolds as rebels from the March 23 Movement (M23) assert their dominance. Supported by Rwanda, the M23 rebels are tightening their hold on Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, marking a severe setback for the Congolese army and escalating a conflict that has, over the years, cost countless lives and displaced millions. The M23, infamous for their strategic maneuvers, made their entrance into Goma on a rather somber…