Decades of conflict culminates in massacre during Goma capture

In January 2025, a violent offensive led by the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (M23) rebels resulted in the fall of Goma, a city in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to reports from the United Nations, at least 2,900 individuals lost their lives in the clashes surrounding the city's capture. The death toll is believed to be underreported as many bodies remain unaccounted for in areas of the city that were difficult to access due to ongoing violence. The situation has caused alarm among humanitarian organizations, raising fears about a potential cholera outbreak in the already tumultuous region, which is known for its struggles with disease and poverty. The M23’s aggression marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, which has been fueled by a complex mix of local grievances and regional power dynamics. Both the Congolese government and Rwanda are entrenched in the conflict, with President Félix Tshisekedi's administration viewing the M23 as a proxy army for Rwandan interests in the mineral-rich eastern territories. These tensions are exacerbated by Rwanda's historical concerns regarding Hutu rebels operating from Congolese soil and its long-standing influence over the Tutsi community in the region. In light of the escalating violence, concerns have grown that the conflict could expand beyond Congo's borders, potentially igniting a regional war. Troops from neighboring countries, including Burundi and Uganda, have already intervened, reflecting a complicated network of alliances that complicate the search for stability. Regional leaders have attempted to convene discussions and propose ceasefires, yet these efforts have largely been met with limited success, partly due to the stubborn political standoff between the involved parties and the absence of a credible peace process that addresses the underlying issues. As Goma’s hospitals grapple with the aftermath of the violence, the humanitarian crisis deepens. Medical facilities are overwhelmed with casualties, and ongoing fears of disease outbreaks loom as mass burials take place without proper sanitation measures. The need for urgent international intervention is palpable but appears hampered by competing national interests, making the resolution of the conflict increasingly elusive. The people of eastern Congo are left to bear witness to the catastrophic consequences of this prolonged violence, with their societal fabric at risk of further disintegration as external powers jostle for influence in the region’s rich mineral resources.