Escalating Violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Leaves Hundreds Dead and Thousands Injured

Woundeds by the DRc conflicts Photo: @Studio7VOA

February 2, 2025 Hour: 1:15 pm

At least 773 people have died and 2,880 have been injured in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to clashes between government forces and insurgents from the March 23 Movement (M23), a group reportedly backed by Rwanda.

According to Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, data collection is still ongoing to assess the full extent of the attacks in the region. The conflict escalated on January 26 when M23 fighters, supported by Rwandan troops, stormed the suburbs of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, announcing the closure of airspace over the city. This development has further complicated the situation for civilians caught in the violence.

In response to the growing humanitarian crisis, leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) convened last Friday for an extraordinary summit in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital.

They issued an urgent call for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected populations. In a statement, SADC representatives urged all parties involved in the conflict to commit to halting hostilities to prevent further loss of life and facilitate assistance for displaced individuals.

#RDC : Au 30 janvier 2025, l’on a recensé dans les structures de soin près de 773 décès et 2880 blessés.

La récolte des données continuent pour avoir une idée exacte de l’ampleur des drames créés par la barbarie rwandaise sur notre territoire.

Nous faisons le point au… pic.twitter.com/w59CTULI68
— Patrick Muyaya (@PatrickMuyaya) February 1, 2025

Rwanda has denied allegations regarding its involvement in the conflict, asserting that its Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) are solely focused on protecting national borders and ensuring civilian safety. The M23, which was defeated in 2013, resumed armed activities in 2021 under claims that the Congolese government had failed to uphold previous agreements.

Since then, DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting insurgents while Kigali denies any connection with the group. Despite previous attempts at negotiation and de-escalation agreements, M23 has continued its military advance, resulting in thousands being displaced and exacerbating instability in the region.

As violence continues unabated, international observers express deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation and urge immediate action to protect civilians and restore peace in this troubled area of Africa.