At least 17 killed in clashes in Congo's Goma, 367 injured receiving treatment

At least 17 killed in clashes in Congo's Goma, 367 injured receiving treatment
Goma, Congo – The intensity of clashes has escalated in the key city of Goma in eastern Congo. The M23 rebel group claimed on Monday that they had taken control of the city, marking a significant blow to the Congolese army.

The United Nations has stated that M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have advanced towards Goma. However, Congo's Rural Development Minister Muhindo Nzangi said that the Congolese army controls 80 percent of Goma, with Rwandan troops stationed on the outskirts of the city or having returned to the border.

At least 17 people were killed in Monday's clashes. The AFP news agency reported, citing hospital sources, that 367 injured individuals are receiving treatment. Meanwhile, civil society organizations and NGOs working in Goma claim that the death toll has reached 25, with 375 injured.

"Our surgical teams are working tirelessly around the clock to treat the injured," said Myriam Favier, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in North Kivu province.

Deaths of South African Soldiers

South Africa has confirmed that three of its soldiers were killed in the clashes, with another soldier dying on Monday in crossfire.

Rwanda's military reported that five civilians were killed and 25 others seriously injured in gunfire on the outskirts of the Rwandan border town of Gisenyi near Goma.

Uncertainty in the City

Al Jazeera's reporter Malcolm Webb, speaking from Nairobi, said, "Residents told us they have managed to reclaim parts of the city center, but minutes later, reports of renewed shelling emerge."

Concerns from the United Nations and African Union

The United Nations has halted food aid around Goma and expressed deep concern over the situation. Meanwhile, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council is set to hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

Rwanda’s Alleged Involvement

The DRC government and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of providing soldiers and weapons to support M23 rebels. However, Rwanda has denied these allegations, claiming that Congo harbors rebels involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The M23 rebel group, composed of fighters from the Tutsi community, emerged in 2012, claiming to fight for the rights of Congo's minority Tutsi population. However, they are believed to primarily aim for control over the mineral-rich eastern DRC.

The escalating conflict in Goma poses a significant threat to Congo's stability and has drawn the attention of the international community.