M23 rebels control Goma and attack families of fleeing soldiers

In late January 2023, M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwanda, seized control of Goma, a major city in eastern Congo. This takeover initiated a series of violent incidents that particularly affected the families of Congolese soldiers fleeing the conflict. As the rebels advanced, they targeted military family camps, forcing the spouses and children of soldiers out of their temporary homes and into overcrowded shelters, including local schools. Many families faced the threat of forced conscription and displacement, stranding them in a city marked by chaos and uncertainty. The M23 insurgents have claimed to fight against what they describe as bad governance in the region, promising to