https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250310/deadly-fighting-reportedly-continues-in-eastern-drc-leaving-heavy-civilian-death-toll-1071014783.html
Deadly Fighting Reportedly Continues in Eastern DRC, Leaving Heavy Civilian Death Toll
Deadly Fighting Reportedly Continues in Eastern DRC, Leaving Heavy Civilian Death Toll
Sputnik Africa
Since January, rebels from the M23 movement have been advancing in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rebels have captured large areas... 10.03.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-03-10T13:11+0100
2025-03-10T13:11+0100
2025-03-11T11:15+0100
m23 rebels offensive in dr congo (2025)
democratic republic of the congo (drc)
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The clashes between the M23 rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) pro-government forces erupted on Sunday in the Nyabiondo village, about 100 km north of Goma, the capital of the eastern province North Kivu, several days after a nearby attack killed at least 40 civilians, a Western media outlet reported, citing residents and a UN memo it had seen.The recent fighting in Nyabiondo follows earlier battles last week between the M23 rebels and a pro-government armed force near the Tambi village, located approximately 18 kilometers northeast of the Masisi district's capital. A confidential UN memo reviewed by the media on Sunday estimated that between 40 and 70 civilians were killed in the assault.While various armed groups are reportedly engaged in fighting with the M23 rebels in the eastern DRC, one of the pro-government forces has joined the Congo River Alliance (AFC) rebel coalition, which includes the M23, AFC spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka said on X, calling on the other armed groups to merge with the coalition.Meanwhile, the DRC government offered a $5 million reward to anyone who can help authorities arrest three leaders of rebel groups operating in the east of the country.Amid the escalating violence in the east of the DRC, recent mass prison escapes, triggered by the advance of the M23 rebels, sparked chaos and crime, a British media outlet reported, citing local residents.More than 4,000 inmates fled the Munzenze prison in Goma on January 27, after the M23 entered the city, with reports of hundreds of female prisoners raped, burned alive, or killed.Subsequent jailbreaks occurred in the prisons of the South Kivu province's capital, Bukavu; the Kabare city of the same province; and the Tanganyika province's capital, Kalemie, which was the latest and took place on February 19, the report noted, emphasizing that mass escapes released thousands convicted of serious crimes, including murder and insurrection.Meanwhile, the Protestant Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), an association of 62 Protestant denominations, has called on the M23/AFC rebels to respect the ceasefire.Furthermore, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinator in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed his deep concern about the increasing number of targeted violence against civilians, medical and educational infrastructures, and humanitarian personnel in the provinces of North and South Kivu.These acts constitute not only serious violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, but also breaches of international humanitarian law, Lemarquis said in a press release.While the situation is further escalating in the eastern DRC, about 375,000 Congolese children are missing out on education and vulnerable to violence and recruitment by armed groups in North Kivu, where about 17% of schools are closed, charity organization Save the Children said in a report.To address the situation in the east of the DRC, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) are preparing for the second meeting of member state leaders this year, South African Defense and Veterans Affairs Minister Angelina Motshekga told a Western media outlet.Additionally, the official pointed out that South Africa's military presence in the DRC depends on African regional decisions.Previously, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stated that Pretoria will refrain from hastily withdrawing its military contingent, part of the SADC forces, from the eastern DRC.The US is "open to discussing partnerships" in minerals with the DRC, a State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times, commenting on the Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi's offer of a mineral partnership with the US in exchange for military training and equipment assistance.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250308/us-eyes-rare-earth-metals-deal-with-dr-congo-report-says-1070989155.html
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democratic republic of the congo (drc), the congo river alliance (afc), united nations (un), united nations humanitarian office (ocha) , conflict, m23 rebels, central africa, violence, prison, clashes, military, crime, ceasefire, ronald lamola, save the children, military aid, southern africa development community (sadc), east african community (eac), crisis
democratic republic of the congo (drc), the congo river alliance (afc), united nations (un), united nations humanitarian office (ocha) , conflict, m23 rebels, central africa, violence, prison, clashes, military, crime, ceasefire, ronald lamola, save the children, military aid, southern africa development community (sadc), east african community (eac), crisis
Deadly Fighting Reportedly Continues in Eastern DRC, Leaving Heavy Civilian Death Toll
13:11 10.03.2025 (Updated: 11:15 11.03.2025) Elizaveta Roschina
Writer/Editor
Longread
Since January, rebels from the M23 movement have been advancing in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The rebels have captured large areas of the provinces of North and South Kivu, including their administrative centers, Goma and Bukavu.
The clashes between the M23 rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) pro-government forces erupted on Sunday in the Nyabiondo village, about 100 km north of Goma, the capital of the eastern province North Kivu, several days after a nearby attack killed at least 40 civilians, a Western media outlet reported, citing residents and a UN memo it had seen.
"The enemy opened a large-scale assault on Nyabiondo this morning [Sunday]. For the moment there is shooting from every direction in the center of Nyabiondo, where the clashes are taking place," the media quoted Telesphore Mitondeke, a civil society representative from the Masisi district, where Nyabiondo is located, as saying.
The recent fighting in Nyabiondo follows
earlier battles last week between the M23 rebels and a pro-government armed force near the Tambi village, located approximately 18 kilometers northeast of the Masisi district's capital. A confidential UN memo reviewed by the media on Sunday estimated that between 40 and 70 civilians were killed in the assault.
While various armed groups are reportedly engaged in fighting with the M23 rebels in the eastern DRC, one of the pro-government forces has joined the Congo River Alliance (AFC) rebel coalition, which includes the M23, AFC spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka said on X, calling on the other armed groups to merge with the coalition.
Meanwhile, the DRC government offered a
$5 million reward to anyone who can help authorities arrest three leaders of rebel groups operating in the east of the country.
Amid the escalating violence in the east of the DRC, recent mass prison escapes, triggered by the advance of the M23 rebels, sparked chaos and crime, a British media outlet reported, citing local residents.
More than 4,000 inmates fled the Munzenze prison in Goma on January 27, after the M23 entered the city, with reports of hundreds of female prisoners raped, burned alive, or killed.
Subsequent jailbreaks occurred in the prisons of the South Kivu province's capital, Bukavu; the Kabare city of the same province; and the Tanganyika province's capital, Kalemie, which was the latest and took place on February 19, the report noted, emphasizing that mass escapes released thousands convicted of serious crimes, including murder and insurrection.
"I saw a group of prisoners with dirty firearms in my avenue. They had even looted an electronics repair shop close to my house. Crime has reached a worrying level in some parts of Bukavu, and some escapers are at the root of all this, and that worries us," the media quoted a resident as saying.
Meanwhile, the Protestant Church of Christ in Congo (ECC), an association of 62 Protestant denominations, has called on the M23/AFC rebels to respect the ceasefire.
"We condemn the presence of foreign forces and uninvited armed groups, including Rwandan forces, on DRC national territory. We call on the AFC/M23 to respect the ceasefire in accordance with resolution 2773 [UN resolution calling on Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the DRC] to allow the regional processes and the peace initiative led by the ECC and CENCO [Episcopal Conference of the DRC, a union of Catholic churches] to succeed," local media outlet Actualite quoted the ECC executive committee members as saying.
Furthermore, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinator in the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, expressed his deep concern about the increasing number of targeted violence against civilians, medical and educational infrastructures, and humanitarian personnel in the provinces of North and South Kivu.
These acts constitute not only serious violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, but also breaches of international humanitarian law, Lemarquis said
in a press release."Between March 1-3, several hospitals in Goma were deliberately targeted by armed actors, marking a new escalation of violence against medical facilities and healthcare personnel. On 27 February 2025, explosions at a public gathering in Bukavu, South Kivu, claimed at least 13 civilian lives and left dozens injured. Additionally, reports indicate a worrying increase in civilian abductions, including near schools and healthcare facilities, in territories of North Kivu and South Kivu," the coordinator said.
While the situation is further escalating in the eastern DRC, about 375,000 Congolese children are missing out on education and vulnerable to violence and recruitment by armed groups in North Kivu, where about 17% of schools are closed, charity organization Save the Children said in a
report.
"The situation is catastrophic. Children are being denied their fundamental right to education, and the long-time consequences for their future and the future of the country are dire. The closure of schools not only deprives children of education but also exposes them to increased risks of recruitment by armed groups, child labor and other forms of exploitation. All parties to the conflict should respect the rights of children and ensure their access to education, while the international community should provide urgent support to the education sector in DRC," Save the Children’s director in the DRC, Greg Ramm, stated.
To address the situation in the east of the DRC, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) are preparing for the second meeting of member state leaders this year, South African Defense and Veterans Affairs Minister Angelina Motshekga told a Western media outlet.
Additionally, the official pointed out that South Africa's
military presence in the DRC depends on African regional decisions.
Previously, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stated that Pretoria will refrain from hastily withdrawing its military contingent, part of the SADC forces, from the eastern DRC.
The US is "open to discussing partnerships" in minerals with the DRC, a State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times, commenting on the Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi's offer of a mineral partnership with the US in exchange for military training and equipment assistance.
