Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who captured Goma, a major city in eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, are seeking to reassure its over 2 million residents, hold-ing a rally and promising safety and stability under their admini-stration. The rally on February 06 in Goma’s city stadium was part of the efforts by the rebel group to shore up public support amid growing international pre-ssure after reports have emerg-ed that almost 3,000 people were killed in clashes between the rebels and Congolese forces.
And despite the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire on humanitarian grounds after the capture of Goma last week, the rebels also took control of the mining town of Nyabibwe, not far from the capital of South Kivu, Bukavu.
The fighting has caused a severe humanitarian crisis which has also drawn the attention of the International Criminal Court. Apart from bodies reportedly left on the streets, the hospitals are overwhelmed and running out of supplies, while fears of the spread of diseases are fuelled by lack of electricity, clean water and ongo-ing outbreaks of mpox and cholera. Congolese authorities have announced they will present a motion to the UN Human Rights Council seeking an investigation into what they call “mass viola-tions” of rights in the city of Goma, which is also a hub for tens of thousands of people displaced by decades of unrest and violence in the region.
Concerned and horrified by the increasing levels of violence, local peace initiatives are multi-plying including one by the Catho-lic and Protestant churches in DRC who met with President Tshisekedi and presented a “crisis exit plan.” The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches also called for dialogue and said the WCC stands ready with its member churches to support all efforts to resume dialogue at a political level.