HAMILTON, Canada
The UN on Wednesday reported that the situation in the Congo “remains tense today, but it is also calmer” amid fighting for the control of Goma between M23 rebels and government forces.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference that there are still reports of “continued sporadic shooting and an open an overall reduction in exchanges of fire within” Goma.
The priority of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in Congo (MONUSCO) “remains the protection of its personnel, its assets, and many civilians sheltering within UN premises,” said Dujarric.
“Our peacekeepers are also planning on sending out patrols today in Goma to assess the situation, to conduct resupplies and assess routes in the capital, Kinshasa,” he said.
Dujarric noted that “the situation is also calm today, despite the calls for protests that we have seen. The main roads are reported to be empty and supermarkets are closed due to the high risk of looting,” referring to demonstrations at the French and US embassies, a UN building and several African embassies including Kenya Uganda and Rwanda.
Demonstrators accused the embassies of being allies of Rwanda whom they blame for supporting the M23 rebels.
Dujarric paid tribute to UN peacekeepers killed in the conflict and sent condolences to the loved ones of the fallen.
“The total number of UN peacekeepers injured since the most recent assault by the M23 now stands at 22,” he said, emphasizing that “attacks against UN peacekeepers are not only unacceptable, but they also may constitute a war crime.”
Dujarric, meanwhile, reported that “the violence and looting of humanitarian warehouses has continued today in Goma, impacting both the ability of aid workers to respond as well as obviously putting them at risk.”
“The airport in Goma unfortunately remains closed, which means that the flow of humanitarian cargo and rotation of humanitarian personnel have been suspended,” he said, adding that most of the roads reaching across the country are also closed.
On Monday, M23 rebels, who are allegedly backed by Rwanda, claimed to have taken control of eastern Goma, while Kinshasa claimed that Rwandan forces were present.
At least 25 people have been killed in Goma and nine in Rwanda. Hundreds have been injured in clashes between the Congolese army and rebels.
Locals say both government forces and rebels control parts of the city of 3 million people, including internally displaced persons.
The M23 rebels have intensified their fight against the Congolese army in Goma, targeting the city for its strategic and economic importance. Goma is a gateway to some of the most mineral-rich areas in the world.
The eastern Congo is home to vast deposits of valuable resources, including coltan, gold and tin, which are crucial for global industries such as electronics. Analysts believe the M23 rebels want to control those resources to fund their operations and gain leverage in negotiations with the government.
The group claims its fight is also driven by grievances about alleged discrimination against Tutsi communities in the region. They argue that the Congolese government has failed to address their grievances, particularly regarding their safety and integration into the national military.
The Congolese government, however, accuses the M23 of destabilizing the area with external support, particularly from neighboring Rwanda.
