Synopsis
The DRC government has condemned the brutal killing of 52 civilians in Goma, attributed to M23 rebels. This incident highlights ongoing human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in the region, with over a million displaced due to escalating conflicts.Key Takeaways
- 52 civilians killed in Goma by M23 rebels.
- The DRC government accused M23 of serious human rights violations.
- Violent clashes erupted in Goma on Friday night.
- Approximately 1 million people displaced in North and South Kivu.
- M23 has controlled Goma since January 2023.
Kinshasa, April 13 (NationPress) The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has denounced the murder of 52 civilians that occurred from Friday night into Saturday in the eastern city of Goma, reportedly executed by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.
In an official declaration signed by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Jacquemain Shabani on Saturday, the DRC administration accused the M23 of perpetrating severe violations of human rights and breaching international humanitarian law in the eastern regions of the country.
Violent confrontations reportedly erupted Friday night in the western part of Goma, the capital of the eastern North Kivu province, according to numerous local sources.
Witnesses from the Keshero and Lac-Vert neighborhoods informed Xinhua that intense gunfire and shelling commenced around 10:00 p.m. local time on Friday, instilling widespread fear among the inhabitants. A relative calm was noted on Saturday morning, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Several local media outlets indicated that the clashes involved M23 rebels, who have held Goma since January, against armed factions linked to the Wazalendo self-defense militias and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC).
In a statement broadcast by the Goma branch of the Congolese National Radio and Television, M23 rebels accused the FARDC-Wazalendo coalition of launching synchronized attacks on several of their positions overnight.
Since taking control of Goma at the end of January this year, M23 has reportedly set up its own administrative framework in the city, while conflicts persist in other key areas of North Kivu.
The United Nations has reported that approximately 1 million individuals, including around 400,000 children, have been displaced in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces since late January 2025 due to the escalating conflict between the FARDC and various armed factions.
