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Members of the Congolese Red Cross and Civil Protection bury dozens of victims of the recent clashes in a cemetery in Goma on February 4, 2025
More than 900 people have been killed in the past two weeks amid intense fighting between M23 rebels and government forces in Goma, a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to a statement released late Monday by the World Health Organization, approximately 2,880 injured individuals have been admitted to various health facilities in Goma since January 26.
Last week, the M23 armed group, backed by Rwandan troops, seized Goma’s airport as its fighters swept through the city, the regional capital of North Kivu, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.
The rebels have intensified attacks in eastern DRC, claiming control over Goma and establishing checkpoints, severely restricting humanitarian access.
With Goma under their control, the rebels pushed towards Bukavu, another major city in eastern DRC. Previously, the group had declared its intention to advance across the country toward the national capital, Kinshasa. However, in a recent statement, M23 rebels denied plans to capture Bukavu.
“It must be made clear that we have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. However, we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions,” M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka stated.
Meanwhile, Rwanda-backed forces in eastern DRC announced on Tuesday that they would pause their advance for humanitarian reasons.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo rebel coalition declared a unilateral ceasefire starting Tuesday, a decision made in response to growing humanitarian concerns.
The rebels’ statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), read:
“The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC/M23) informs the public that, in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the regime in Kinshasa, it declares a ceasefire starting February 4, 2025, for humanitarian reasons.”
Despite the ceasefire declaration, there has been no immediate response from the DRC government in Kinshasa, and it remains unclear whether the Congolese military will honor the truce. Over the past three years, multiple ceasefires and truces have been declared, only to be systematically broken.
Before the ceasefire announcement, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported treating over 600 wounded individuals since the start of January, nearly half of whom were civilians, including women and children.
Meanwhile, the WHO has warned of a heightened risk of disease outbreaks, including mpox, cholera, and measles, as displaced populations struggle to access medical care.
