At least 773 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since a week ago, amid intense fighting with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The conflict has escalated, with the rebels capturing eastern DRC’s largest city of Goma.
The government reports provisional figures, but warns that the death toll could be higher due to the rebels’ request for civilians to clean up the streets. The rebels are backed by around 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda and have been waging a decade-long conflict in the country’s mineral-rich east.
M23 rebels advanced into other areas, but were slowed down by the DRC military, which has recovered some villages from them. However, the military suffered significant losses and foreign mercenaries surrendered to the rebels after Goma fell.
As residents began returning to the city, they found it littered with debris and filled with blood. The United Nations peacekeeping chief warned that M23 and Rwandan forces are 60km north of a key provincial capital, and capturing an airport would be a significant step in their advance.
The capture of Goma has disrupted humanitarian operations, cutting off vital lifelines for aid delivery across eastern DRC. Aid groups warn that the escalation of violence could lead to greater displacement and leave entire communities without support.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/2/2/more-than-700-killed-as-dr-congo-military-fights-m23-rebels