At least 773 people have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest city of Goma and its vicinity amid fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels who captured the city. The Congolese government has reported that over 2,880 people were injured, with the death toll potentially higher.
The M23 rebel group, backed by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, advanced on Saturday after earlier retaking several villages in South Kivu’s Kalehe territory. The rebels have promised to restore basic services, including water and power, to Goma residents who have returned to the city.
However, concerns over human rights abuses persist, with reports of extrajudicial killings, forced conscription, and summary executions by the M23 rebels. The UN has also documented at least 12 people killed in summary executions.
The fighting has left humanitarian operations severely disrupted, cutting off aid delivery across eastern Congo. Aid groups fear that the escalating violence could lead to further displacement of communities and stranded aid workers.
Goma serves as a critical humanitarian hub for the six million people displaced by the conflict in eastern Congo. The rebels’ advance into Kinshasa is seen as a significant escalation of the decade-long conflict, with the UN warning of dire humanitarian consequences.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/01/at-least-770-killed-in-goma-east-drc-in-fighting-with-rwanda-backed-m23