M23 rebels

Metascholar News Portal
Africa , News
February 25, 2025
307 views
3 minutes Read

Eastern Congo Conflict: Children Endure Deadly Violence and Sexual Assault

In eastern Congo, violence continues to escalate as clashes between army forces and M23 rebels intensify, with reports emerging of unspeakable atrocities committed against civilians, including children. Recent accounts detail a harrowing incident near Goma, where, amid the rebel advance supported by Rwanda, retreating army soldiers reportedly stormed the residence of Suzanne Amisi Wilonja, located near the city’s airport. Eyewitnesses claim that in the ensuing chaos, the soldiers looted the home and fired indiscriminately, fatally shooting Wilonja’s 10-year-old son, Sylvain, in the head. The family was trapped amid ongoing street clashes that delayed access to medical care, and by the time help arrived the following morning, Sylvain had already succumbed to his injuries. “We were so terrified that we couldn’t even bring him to the hospital because soldiers were crowded right outside our door,” Wilonja tearfully recounted to Reuters, her voice heavy with grief as she described the ordeal of watching her son die. Despite requests for comment, an army spokesperson declined to address the incident, and Reuters was unable to independently verify all details of the account. The situation in the mineral-rich region is deteriorating rapidly. The United Nations has raised alarms over an alarming rise in child recruitment, abductions, killings, and sexual violence committed by both M23 rebels and retreating soldiers. The M23, whose stated aim is to restore order and security in the area, have expanded their territorial control to unprecedented levels, yet their actions have sparked widespread condemnation. Last week, the UN Human Rights Office reported that M23 fighters had summarily executed three children in Bukavu, the region’s second-largest city, which fell to rebel forces earlier this month. Although an M23 spokesperson denied the allegations, citing the difficulty of obtaining precise casualty figures amid ongoing fighting, he acknowledged the pervasive climate of terror in Bukavu, remarking, “There is a climate of terror that makes it difficult for parents to testify. One child is enough – we don’t need numbers.” Further compounding the crisis, a military prosecutor has leveled serious accusations against fleeing soldiers, charging them with rape, murder, and other war crimes. The dual assault by both government forces and rebel groups has left local communities in a state of profound fear and uncertainty. As the violence shows no signs of abating, international organizations and human rights groups continue to call for urgent intervention and accountability, emphasizing that the suffering of innocent civilians especially children must not be overlooked. The tragic death of Sylvain and…

Metascholar News Portal
Africa , Global News , News
February 24, 2025
262 views
3 minutes Read

The Ongoing Conflict in Congo Leaves 7,000 Dead Since January – DRC Prime Minister

Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 19, 2025 Members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were seen digging a mass grave at Musigoko Cemetery to bury the bodies of those killed in recent clashes between M23 rebels and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). The violence, which erupted in eastern DRC, has left communities reeling as humanitarian organizations work to manage the aftermath. Geneva, February 24, 2025 Fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed approximately 7,000 lives since January, with both combatants and civilians among the dead, DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa revealed during a high-level meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. The escalating conflict, primarily driven by the M23 rebel group, has also left an estimated 450,000 people without shelter following the destruction of 90 displacement camps. Addressing the Council, Suminwa disclosed that around 3,000 deaths were reported in Goma, a strategic city that, along with Bukavu, has fallen into M23’s control. The rebel group’s offensive has not only resulted in devastating human casualties but also led to the capture of valuable mineral-rich territories. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels with arms and troops, a charge echoed by the United Nations and several Western powers allegations that Kigali firmly denies. The current violence marks a significant escalation in a long-standing conflict in eastern Congo, rooted in power struggles, identity politics, and competition for natural resources. The unrest dates back to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s, when millions of Rwandan refugees flooded into the DRC, contributing to the region’s volatility. Prime Minister Suminwa issued a passionate appeal to the international community, urging swift action and the imposition of “dissuasive sanctions” on Rwanda. She painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, where mass displacements, summary executions, and widespread destruction have become daily realities. “It is impossible to describe the screams and cries of millions of victims of this conflict,” Suminwa lamented, emphasizing the need for decisive intervention to prevent further loss of life and stability in the region. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who also attended the Geneva meeting, underscored the broader implications of the crisis, warning that human rights worldwide were being “suffocated.” He referenced the “horrifying abuses” occurring in the DRC and called for heightened international attention to address the crisis. In a press briefing following her Council address,…