- Rwanda welcomes joint summit between East African Community and Southern African Development Community to address conflict in Goma
NAIROBI
Some social media platforms, including X and TikTok, have been suspended in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid uneasy calm in the eastern city of Goma.
The central African nation’s Higher Council of Audiovisual and Communication said it does not have information about the cause of the disruption, according to local news website Actualite.cd.
Global watchdog Netblocks urged users in Congo to use their app to check internet status and restrictions on platforms.
The interruptions coincide with recent criticism by Congolese authorities of platforms such as TikTok for failing to adequately control their content.
Notably, the M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, is engaged in a long-standing conflict with Congolese forces.
Last week, it claimed control over Goma, capital of the North Kivu province. Congo, however, has vowed to reclaim the city of around 3 million people. Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of sending troops to Goma to back M23. An uneasy calm prevails in the city.
However, Rwanda has denied the allegations, but welcomed a joint summit of African nations towards resolution in eastern Congo.
The joint summit with the East African Community was proposed by the Southern African Development Community.
According to the UN, the fighting has left at least 700 people dead and 2,800 injured over the past five days.
At least 20 peacekeepers have been killed in eastern Congo since last week, 14 of which are from South Africa.
Thousands have been displaced, with many fleeing to neighboring Rwanda, including international organization staff from the UN and the World Bank.
The crisis has overwhelmed hospitals and mortuaries, with the Congo Health Ministry claiming 773 bodies were in morgues as of Jan. 30. Some remain on the streets due to overcrowding.
US reduces diplomats in Kinshasa
The US embassy in Kinshasa said on Monday it is further reducing its staff and urged its citizens to leave Congo using commercial transportation.
The US had already closed its embassy in Kinshasa and urged Americans to leave Congo, following violent protests targeting several embassies, including those of the US and France.
Separately, Uganda Airlines also suspended all flights to Congo last week, following an attack on its embassy as well as others.
