The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who captured eastern DR Congo’s largest city announced a ceasefire on Tuesday, as residents rushed to bury thousands killed in last week’s fighting.
The pause in fighting allowed humanitarian workers to begin addressing the massive toll of the conflict, with over 2,000 bodies awaiting burial according to Congolese authorities.
Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of Goma reported that while the city remained calm, residents were still fearful of venturing outside their homes. “Schools are largely closed, many buildings were damaged or destroyed in the fighting,” the bishop said, noting that hospitals were struggling with insufficient medicines while treating large numbers of wounded.
The United Nations estimated at least 900 people were killed and almost 3,000 injured during the battle for Goma. The fighting displaced around 700,000 people in and around the city.
Aid groups now face a “race against time” to identify bodies, with morgue refrigeration affected by power outages, according to Red Cross official Myriam Favier.
Rwanda’s Stance Draws International Criticism
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame claimed in an interview with CNN that he “didn’t know” whether Rwandan troops were present in eastern Congo. However, UN experts assess that 3,000-4,000 Rwandan soldiers are supporting M23 fighters in the region.
"If you want to ask me, is there a problem in Congo that concerns Rwanda? And that Rwanda would do anything to protect itself? I'd say 100%," Kagame told CNN.
DRC communications minister Patrick Muyaya dismissed Kagame’s denials, noting that various international bodies had confirmed Rwanda’s military presence.
Reaction: The European Union
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs affirmed the bloc’s support for existing peace processes while declaring Congo’s territorial integrity “non-negotiable.” Germany suspended development aid talks with Rwanda, while protests targeting foreign embassies erupted in Kinshasa.
Path Forward Remains Uncertain
The M23 rebels, who now control Goma, declared they would not advance on the provincial capital of Bukavu despite earlier threats of a broader campaign.
M23 Spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka stated, "We have no intention of capturing Bukavu or other areas. However, we reiterate our commitment to protecting and defending the civilian population and our positions."
A regional summit scheduled for this week in Tanzania may offer hope for diplomatic progress. Both President Tshisekedi and President Kagame are expected to attend, though Congo has not confirmed Tshisekedi’s participation. Previous peace talks have faltered, with both leaders often absent from negotiations.
For now, Goma’s residents continue to rebuild amid uncertainty. Julienne Zaina Barabara, who lost one child and saw two others wounded by shrapnel, exemplifies the human cost of the conflict.
Julienne Zaina: "We took them all to hospital, where one of them died after three hours. The other two are still receiving treatment," she told Reuters.
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special meeting on the Goma situation, while eastern and southern African leaders gather to discuss solutions to the crisis.
Yet with Congo demanding sanctions against Rwanda and Rwanda claiming self-defence against what it calls “existential threats,” finding common ground remains a daunting challenge in this latest chapter of central Africa’s most enduring conflict.
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Read also:
Congo Crisis Escalates as M23 Eye Up More Territory
Chaos in the Congo: The Fall of Goma
Seperation No More: The Sahel Files for Divorce
