Fighting has also resulted in the displacement of 450,000 people, the country’s prime minister has said
In a recent address to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Judith Suminwa, reported that ongoing battles in the country’s eastern regions have led to the deaths of about 7,000 people since January.
Suminwa said that approximately 3,000 of these deaths occurred in Goma, a major city in the eastern part of the country. Additionally, nearly 90 displacement camps have been destroyed, leaving around 450,000 people without shelter.
DRC has been plagued by decades of violence, particularly in the eastern part of the country, as dozens of armed groups, including M23, fight local authorities. In their latest offensive, the rebels have seized Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
According to the UN, M23 has appointed de facto authorities, including a governor and mayor in Goma. The DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing support to M23 rebels – a claim Kigali has consistently denied.
The prime minister called for international intervention, urging the global community to impose “dissuasive sanctions” on Rwanda in response to a humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacements and reports of summary executions. She emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “It is impossible to describe the screams and cries of millions of victims of this conflict.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the same meeting, expressed deep concern over the global state of human rights, referencing the alarming abuses occurring in the DRC. He underscored the critical need to address violations of territorial integrity to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
On Saturday, the rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), including M23 militants, expressed readiness for talks with the DRC government to end fighting in the east. AFC spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka announced the group’s commitment to a negotiated solution and a unilateral ceasefire declared on February 4.
The ceasefire aims to support resolutions from recent regional peace conferences calling for political dialogue with the Congolese government. Kanyuka urged the government to fully implement these agreements. Meanwhile, the African Union has warned of a potential DRC breakup, and the UN fears regional escalation.
On Friday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding M23 cease hostilities, withdraw from occupied areas, and dismantle illegitimate parallel administrations in the country.
