Goma Holds Memorial for 200 Conflict Victims Amid M23 Insurgency

Goma, a city in eastern Congo, held a memorial service for 200 victims of the ongoing conflict between the army and M23 rebels. Government and local officials attended, advocating for peace. The conflict has displaced 1.7 million people. Congo also faces an mpox outbreak, with vaccines expected soon.

Goma, the eastern city of Congo, hosted a memorial service on Monday, honoring 200 victims of the ongoing conflict between the national army and the M23 rebels. The nature of the killings remains unclear, with victims ranging from unarmed civilians to volunteer defense forces.

The ceremony was attended by officials from Kinshasa, local authorities, and grieving families. Safi Bahuma, mourning her brother, urged for peace, saying, 'The government must find a solution. We've suffered enough. We're tired of burying.'

Since 2022, the M23 rebels have reignited the violence in Congo's militia-overrun eastern region. Allegations from Congo, the UN, the US, and other Western nations accuse Rwanda of supporting M23, claims Rwanda denies, further straining relations with Kinshasa.

According to the UN, the conflict has displaced over 1.7 million people, contributing to a record total of 7.2 million displaced Congolese. Chantal Chambu Mwavita, North Kivu's minister for humanitarian affairs, questioned the high cost of minerals at the expense of Congolese lives and assured efforts are underway to find a solution.

Adding to the turmoil, Congo is grappling with a new strain of mpox, declared a global public health emergency by the WHO. Vaccines are anticipated to arrive in days, aiming to curb the outbreak.

(With inputs from agencies.)