By: Enya Fierens
Lately, Congo has been overtaken by violence. A rebel group called M23, made up by Tutsi rebels and supported by the neighboring country, Rwanda has been terrorizing the country. This brutality stems from an escalation of a conflict over power, resources, and identity dating back to the 1990’s. In this time, a genocide had taken place and their current dictator fell. At the end of this January, the rebels took over the major city of Goma after days of fighting. This is the most important city in East-Congo and holds a population of 2 million. Nearly 3,000 people have been killed during this takeover.
After their victory, the rebels are pushing towards Bukavu, which is another important city. There have been numerous reports of looting and raping as M23 and the Congolese military fight each other. Both Burundi and Rwanda are getting involved in the situation. This could lead to a serious escalation and even end in a bigger regional conflict.
I asked a Congolese student for his opinion on the matter. He was able to tell me that the rebels in his country are supported by some countries of the European Union as well. He also mentioned: ‘Congo is one of the richest countries in the world and has a lot of natural raw materials. Because of this, my motherland constantly gets attacked by its different neighboring countries.’ Luckily, his family lives in the West and is pretty far away from the ongoing fights.
The U. N. refugee agency has voiced their concern at this situation. Around 350, 000 people have been left without a roof over their heads. From the start of this year, more than 7,000 people have been killed due to this war. As the conflict isn’t close to over, this number will keep rising. Hopefully, the fighting won’t escalate too much anymore, as the Congolese government is actively fighting the rebels and trying to take away their power. But only time will tell.
