In a series of coordinated assaults on Monday, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group wreaked havoc in the lawless eastern region of DR Congo, claiming the lives of at least 15 individuals and prompting the mass displacement of thousands.
Eyewitness accounts from locals, health professionals, and government officials point to targeted attacks in the Rutshuru region of North Kivu, exacerbating the ongoing clashes between the predominantly Tutsi M23 rebels and Congolese government forces in the Rutshuru and Masisi regions. Consequently, access to the North Kivu capital, Goma, has become nearly impassable.
Accusations from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN, and Western nations assert that Rwanda is providing support to the rebels in an effort to gain control over extensive mineral resources. However, Kigali vehemently denies these allegations.
Sources indicate that skirmishes erupted in various areas north of Goma, with an early morning assault on Congolese forces in Kirima disrupting a crucial supply route.
Maisha Faustin, a local official, recounted, “Around four in the morning, the M23 attacked our forces in Kirima, severing a major supply route for the Congolese army.”
Meanwhile, in Nyanzale, approximately 10 kilometers west of Kirima, clashes resulted in the death of at least 15 people, including children.
Ombeni Gasiga, a prominent civil society member in Nyanzale, described the grim scene: “Bombs rained on the residents, and the entire population fled.”
“We were compelled to evacuate with the sick to preserve our lives,” shared a worker at a health facility, revealing the dire situation.
Multiple sources report that a projectile landing near a building claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals, including children, while a health worker stated that 12 people were wounded, sadly resulting in the death of five, including three children.
On Monday, the European Union joined the United States and France in condemning Kigali. In a statement, the EU called for Rwanda to withdraw its military personnel from the DRC immediately and cease all support and cooperation with the M23 rebels.
