Since the beginning of January 2025, over 3,000 people have been killed and 700,000 displaced due to military actions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the advance of Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. This is reported by UNN with reference to Africanews.
Details
The recent capture of Goma by M23 rebels in the DRC opens a new chapter in the decade-long conflict in eastern Congo, and the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region has led to the further displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the summits of the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, and the African Union Peace and Security Council, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Silence the guns, stop the escalation. We are at a critical stage, and it is time to unite for peace
The UN Secretary-General also delivered a clear message: "Respect the sovereignty and integrity of the DRC. There is no military solution."
What is happening in the DRC
The armed confrontation between Congolese government forces and M23 has been ongoing since the beginning of the year.
M23 - "March 23 Movement" - a Congolese rebel group representing the interests of the Tutsi ethnic minority.
On Monday, M23 rebels announced a supposed ceasefire for humanitarian reasons after requests for safe passage of aid and assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.
However, the Congolese government called the announced truce a "false report," while the UN noted reports of heavy fighting with Congolese forces in the mineral-rich region.
On Tuesday, a week after M23 rebels took control of Goma, Red Cross workers continued mass burials.
According to government sources, over 3,000 people have been killed since the beginning of January: Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani stated that 2,000 victims had been buried. The WHO adjusted the official death toll. Also, 700,000 people have been forcibly displaced.