Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo — April 13, 2025 — At least 52 people were killed in a fresh wave of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend, deepening an already devastating humanitarian crisis and sparking fears of a renewed regional war. Both the Congolese government and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels are pointing fingers at each other for the attacks that rattled the region’s largest city, Goma, and its surrounding areas.
The escalating conflict marks the deadliest episode in recent months, threatening to derail fragile peace initiatives being brokered by Qatar and African Union leaders.
Residents of Goma, a city now largely controlled by M23 forces, described a night of terror as gunfire echoed through the streets and explosions shook buildings.
“My family and I spent the entire night hiding under our bed,” said Amboma Safari, a Goma resident. “We could hear bombs and gunfire. When we stepped out, we saw bodies — soldiers, but we couldn’t tell whose side they were on.”
The violence reportedly spanned from Friday evening into Saturday, leaving streets littered with debris and fear-stricken civilians. According to Congo’s Ministry of the Interior, 52 people were confirmed dead, including a civilian shot at Kyeshero Hospital in Goma.
Authorities placed the blame squarely on M23 rebels, accusing them of orchestrating the attacks in a bid to consolidate power in the restive North Kivu province.
In response, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka released a statement denying responsibility, instead accusing Congolese government troops, allied militias, and Southern African military units of launching coordinated attacks that endangered civilians.
“Joint military operations involving FARDC (Congolese Armed Forces), local armed groups, and regional forces are directly threatening the safety and security of the population,” Kanyuka stated.
“We are being forced to reconsider our position and prioritize the protection of civilians,” he added — a thinly veiled warning that more violence could be imminent.
The situation in eastern Congo has deteriorated rapidly since January 2025, when M23 rebels made an aggressive advance and seized control of Goma, followed by the strategic town of Bukavu in February. These advances marked the most significant territorial gains by the rebel group since their resurgence in late 2021.
The conflict has claimed an estimated 3,000 lives so far this year and contributed to one of the world’s largest displacement crises. Over 7 million people have been forced from their homes, according to humanitarian agencies.
Civilians and local civil society leaders say they are trapped between warring factions, unable to identify who is responsible for the mounting deaths.
“We saw a body lying in the street today,” said Christian Kalamo, a civil society representative in North Kivu. “But we don’t know who killed them — was it the Wazalendo militia? The Congolese army? The M23? No one knows.”
He added that residents now live in constant fear, with widespread anxiety that full-scale war could break out again at any moment.
“There’s a deep fear in our stomachs,” Kalamo said. “We don’t know what tomorrow brings.”
The latest surge in violence jeopardizes ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict. Talks mediated by Qatar and supported by the African Union have made limited progress, but the current clashes threaten to undo months of negotiation.
Tensions between Congo and Rwanda, which denies supporting M23, have also surged, raising concerns of a broader regional confrontation. Rwanda has long been accused of backing the rebels due to shared ethnic and strategic interests in eastern Congo, particularly in mineral-rich zones.
As the death toll mounts and blame intensifies, humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate international intervention, including ceasefire negotiations and the expansion of aid corridors to reach displaced populations.
The Congolese government has vowed to “neutralize armed groups and protect the people,” while M23 signals it will continue operations under the guise of defending civilians.
