Red Cross workers in Goma have continued mass burials following last week’s takeover by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. According to Congolese Interior Minister Jacquemin Shabani, 2,000 bodies have already been buried, while the World Health Organization (WHO) revised the official death toll to at least 900, excluding those still in morgues.
Families of the victims are grieving the immense loss and demanding urgent action from authorities.
“We lost three people—some from a bomb, another was shot. We are devastated,” said Debors Zuzu, a mourning relative. “We have lived in fear for too long. If everyone dies, who will the leaders govern?”
At Goma’s ITIG cemetery, Elisha Dunia, who lost a child in the conflict, pleaded for government intervention. “We are heartbroken. We ask the president and our deputies to get involved in restoring peace in Goma.”
The crisis escalates as the M23 rebel group, supported by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops, continues to consolidate power in eastern Congo, a region rich in minerals essential for global technology. The violence has forced hundreds of thousands to flee, with many seeking refuge in neighboring Rwanda.
In an attempt to establish authority, M23 recently announced plans to set up an administration in Goma, urging residents to return to normal life. On Monday, the rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire, effective Tuesday, citing humanitarian concerns. However, the situation remains tense, with uncertainty clouding the future of the conflict-ravaged city.
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