At least 773 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern city of Goma and its surrounding areas this week amid intense fighting between government forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, Congolese authorities have said.
The rebels, who captured Goma in a major escalation of the decade-long conflict, were slowed by a weakened military that managed to reclaim some villages.
According to Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya, 773 bodies have been recorded in Goma’s morgues, while 2,880 people have been injured. Speaking at a briefing in Kinshasa on Saturday, he warned that the death toll could be higher.
“These figures remain provisional because the rebels instructed residents to clear the streets of Goma. There are likely mass graves, and the Rwandans ensured they evacuated their casualties,” Muyaya said.
Humanitarian Crisis and Rebel Control
Hundreds of Goma residents returned on Saturday after rebels pledged to restore essential services like water and electricity. However, the city remained littered with debris from weapons and the stench of blood.
“I’m exhausted and don’t know where to go. There are mourners on every corner,” said Jean Marcus, 25, whose relative was among the casualties.
M23, one of over 100 armed groups vying for control of mineral-rich eastern Congo, is reportedly backed by approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, according to UN experts. This number is significantly higher than during the group’s brief occupation of Goma in 2012.
Amid ongoing battles, the Congolese army recaptured Sanzi, Muganzo, and Mukwidja villages in South Kivu’s Kalehe territory, which had fallen earlier in the week. However, the army remains significantly weakened after losing hundreds of troops, with some surrendering to the rebels.
Escalating Violence and UN Warnings
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said M23 and Rwandan forces were advancing rapidly, reaching about 60km north of South Kivu’s capital, Bukavu. Their capture of an airport in the area would mark a significant strategic gain.
The UN and humanitarian organizations have warned that Goma’s seizure has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, cutting off aid for millions displaced by the conflict. The rebels have also threatened to march on Kinshasa, 1,600km west of Goma.
UN human rights office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence reported cases of extrajudicial killings and forced civilian conscription by M23 between January 26 and 28. He said at least 12 people were summarily executed, while schools and hospitals have been taken over by the rebels.
Additionally, Congolese forces have been accused of sexual violence, with UN officials verifying reports that government troops raped 52 women in South Kivu.
Rose Tchwenko, country director for Mercy Corps in Congo, warned that the humanitarian crisis is worsening. “The escalation of violence toward Bukavu raises fears of even greater displacement, while the breakdown of humanitarian access is leaving entire communities stranded without support,” she said.
Additional reporting by the Guardian
