Violence has once again erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), resulting in the deaths of at least four people, including two children, despite a recently announced humanitarian truce. The incident occurred in Bweremana, approximately 15km west of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
The United States had brokered a ceasefire between the Kinshasa government and the M23 rebel group on July 5, which was meant to last until July 19. However, fighting resumed on Friday, quickly escalating and spreading towards Goma by Monday.
Local civil society leader Innocent Mwitehofu Mumbara reported that the victims included two children from the same family, with the deceased ranging in age from two to 18 years old. Bweremana Police Commissioner Paulin Ilunga stated that the attack came from “the hills where the M23 is,” also noting that a mother and her four-year-old child were among the wounded.
This latest outbreak of violence underscores the fragility of peace efforts in the region. The DRC has been grappling with political instability and armed conflict since 1996, resulting in an estimated six million deaths. The M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Rwandan army units, has seized significant territory in North Kivu since late 2021, nearly encircling Goma.
Human Rights Watch has reported numerous atrocities committed by M23, including mass executions of civilians and militia members between November 2022 and April 2023. The UN Human Rights Office documented the execution of 171 civilians in the last 10 days of November alone.
The situation remains dire, with the M23 and Rwandan army seizing several towns in Lubero territory at the end of June following the collapse of the Congolese army and its auxiliary militias. In a stark illustration of the conflict’s brutality, nearly 50 Congolese soldiers were sentenced to death for “fleeing the enemy” in the days following these losses.
As the violence continues to escalate, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis and find a lasting solution to the conflict in the DR Congo.
Source:aljazeera.com
