A conflict that has ravaged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for decades reached a flashpoint this week, as rebels backed by Rwanda seized the city of Goma. The move has sparked international condemnation and calls for action against Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Millions of Congolese have been forced to flee their homes, with hundreds of thousands displaced in recent weeks alone. Bombs have fallen on camps meant to house them, and sexual violence has increased sharply, according to humanitarian workers.
The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions on some Rwandan and Congolese military commanders involved in the conflict, but many Congolese demand more action from Western nations.
Rwanda’s exploitation of Congo’s rare minerals has been detailed in reports from the United Nations. The country’s big bilateral donor, giving over $188 million to Congo last year, may now be in a weaker position to influence Rwanda due to the pause on foreign aid.
Humanitarian workers warn that the situation could plunge Congo deeper into crisis, with over 21 million people needing aid and millions more facing food insecurity.
As negotiations between Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi are underway, hundreds of thousands of terrified people in Goma remain without a safe haven. The international community must act to stop human rights abuses and ensure that all parties to the conflict are held accountable.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/world/africa/rwanda-congo-goma-conflict.html