Sporadic Gunfire and Uncertainty Grip Goma: A City on Edge
Tensions ran high in the city of Goma, located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, as sporadic gunfire echoed through the streets late into Sunday night, leaving the population in a state of uncertainty. Reports of gunshots, primarily from small arms, emerged from various neighborhoods in this strategically important city near the Rwandan border.
Witnesses on the ground, as reported by ACTUALITE.CD, described scenes of extortion in certain areas involving armed individuals who sometimes identified themselves as members of the “Wazalendo” group. Faced with growing insecurity, some residents sought refuge by crossing the border into Gisenyi, Rwanda, or taking to the water to reach Bukavu in South Kivu. However, the majority of inhabitants remained in Goma, sheltering in place while awaiting a sense of calm.
Official communication regarding the situation or clarification on who currently controls the city has been notably absent. Witnesses reported that residents had attempted to access the local base of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) near the airport, with no information provided on their fate.
The tensions in Goma arise amidst renewed offensives by the rebel group M23 since January 23, leading to massive displacement of populations. Sites on the outskirts of the city, housing over 300,000 displaced individuals, were swiftly emptied, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
“The fighting in densely populated areas, coupled with the use of heavy artillery, exposes civilian populations to intolerable risks,” the United Nations denounced in a statement.
The already fragile healthcare infrastructure teeters on the brink of collapse. On January 24, the Ndosho General Hospital in Goma treated over 256 injured individuals, including 90 civilians with severe wounds from gunfire and bombings. Despite the assistance of humanitarian organizations like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the hospital’s maximum capacity of 146 beds has been far exceeded.
As the situation in Goma remains volatile and uncertain, the plight of its residents underscores the urgent need for stability, security, and humanitarian aid in the region.