Eastern Congo: What is the situation now?
Feb 04 2025
5 minutes
The M23 rebels have declared a unilateral ceasefire in Goma for humanitarian reasons. A week after they took the eastern Congolese city, food, water and security shortages are increasing. What are the main developments? What is the humanitarian situation? And what about the safety of journalists and activists? 11.11.11-Congo expert Eva Demaré explains.
What are the main developments in the situation in and around Goma?
“The developments in and around Goma are extremely worrying. According to initial figures from the United Nations, last week at least 700 people killed and 2.800 injured. Some bodies lay on the streets for days.”
“The UN Human Rights Office has also documented the executions of at least 12 people by M23 rebels. In addition, Congolese troops also accused of sexual violence, with reports of rapes of women in South Kivu. They also report that civilians are being forced into conscription and forced labor by M23.”
“The situation for displaced people has also become worse after the capture of Goma. M23 forces them to leave refugee camps. Last week, the two camps in Rusayo were already cleared, where a year ago some 95.000 people were staying. The refugee camp in Kanyarutshina with some 50.000 refugees was cleared. Other camps north of Goma are also being cleared. According to local sources, the M23 rebels do not want refugee camps to remain in their area; everyone must return home. However, for many this is no longer an option.”
"M23 has now also been spotted near the city of Bukavu. That's another big city in East-Congo, located on Lake Kivu where also 11.11.11 has an office. This rapid advance increases the risk of further escalation in a region that already has a long history of conflict.”
What do we know about the humanitarian situation in the area?
"The M23 rebels have declared a ceasefire as of today declared for 'humanitarian reasons' and stated that they do not want to take Bukavu, but it is unclear whether that is really the reason. For example, last year they made a communication that they would not invade Goma. It is also unclear whether the parties involved will actually adhere to a ceasefire."
The fact is that the humanitarian situation is dramatic. Goma is largely cut off from the outside world and the shortages of water, food and medical care are mounting. Electricity and internet have also been cut off. Refugees continue to flow in (in eastern Congo, at least 700.000 people on the run are) and the population lives in complete fear. Although there is some movement again in certain parts of the city, the area remains very unsafe.”
“This insecurity and mass displacement also pose a major threat to public health. Diseases and epidemics The past thirty years of war have already claimed thousands of lives, and this time will be no different.”
"The situation is also extremely worrying, specifically for women and children. The United Nations estimates that there are currently 20.000 pregnant women, 15% of whom are at risk of serious complications. More than 2.000 women are also at increased risk of sexual violence and sexually transmitted diseases. The violence will also have a major impact on children, who are at risk of being recruited as child soldiers and of increased mortality due to the deteriorating living conditions.”
“The humanitarian organizations that are still present cannot function due to a lack of communication and basic resources, still barely offer any protection to the vulnerable population and the many refugees. If the international community does not intervene quickly, the situation will completely get out of hand.”
What about the safety of journalists and human rights defenders?
"Local journalists express fears of intimidation. They are being threatened by both the rebels and the Congolese government when they do not go along with their contradictory discourse or propaganda."
"There is a real risk that journalists will be wrongly linked by M23 to the FDLR, a militia labelled as genocidal by Rwanda."
"The Congolese government, in turn, threatens any journalist who attends an M23 press conference with the death penalty. In addition, the Congolese media regulator has suspended Al Jazeera's license for 90 days for airing an interview with an M23 leader. Bosembe, the head of the media regulator, also warned that all media outlets reporting on the situation in Goma will be closed."
"Also it is very dangerous for human rights defenders. Many of them have been critical of the parties involved in the conflict in the past and are now at greatest risk of intimidation, extreme violence or even murder."
"Our Congolese partner organizations live in great uncertainty and fear. For security reasons, we do not communicate about them or their names. This shows how dangerous the work of activists and aid organizations in the region is."
What is asking 11.11.11?
We call on the Belgian government to play a leading role within the European Union and the United Nations. In concrete terms, we ask:
- Set up safe corridors for the evacuation of vulnerable refugees and civilians, as well as for humanitarian organizations to deliver food, water, medicine and other essential assistance to the population in the occupied territories, protected by UN peacekeeping forces.
- Strict protection of refugee camps and other rallying points against attacks by armed groups.
- Protection of human rights activists, journalists and civilians. Reopening the lines between them and the outside world.
- An immediate ceasefire between the Congolese army, M23 rebels and other armed groups, supported by UN observers on the ground.
- Concrete sanctions against Rwanda including a termination of the EU-Rwanda agreement on trade in critical minerals, and an end to military cooperation with Rwanda through the European Peace Facility
- The appointment of a separate mandate by the UN Human Rights Council to to investigate war crimes and serious human rights violations by all parties in eastern Congo and an urgent update of the EU sanctions list against perpetrators of serious human rights violations.
If the world does not intervene, ordinary Congolese will pay a disastrous price. The international community has the duty and the power to enforce a ceasefire and humanitarian aid.
