Congo says 773 dead in week of fighting as military battles Rwanda-backed rebels

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have stated that fighting between the military and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group in and around Goma, the largest city in eastern DRC, has resulted in at least 773 deaths over the past week. The M23 rebels captured Goma on Tuesday and subsequently advanced south towards Bukavu, but on Friday, DRC forces, supported by Burundian troops, halted their progress about 60 kilometers north of Bukavu.

DRC government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stated that 773 bodies of those killed in the fighting were in Goma's morgues, with another 2,880 people hospitalized for injuries. He indicated at a press conference in the capital, Kinshasa, that the final death toll from this week's fighting could be higher. "These figures are still temporary because the rebels are asking the population to clean the streets of Goma. There should be mass graves," Mr. Muyaya said.

This latest round of violence prompted the Foreign Ministers of the G7 group of wealthy democracies to issue a statement strongly condemning the attacks on Goma and urging the M23 rebels and Rwandan forces to cease their offensive. The statement noted that "this offensive is a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo" and cited civilian displacement and a worsening humanitarian situation.

The Tutsi-led M23 rebels are well-trained and well-equipped, and are the most powerful of more than 100 armed groups vying for control of the DRC's mineral-rich eastern region. This region holds vast mineral deposits crucial to much of the world's technology. The rebels have stated their intention to continue their offensive until they reach Kinshasa, located about 1,600 kilometers west of Goma. According to UN experts, they are supported by approximately 4,000 soldiers from neighboring Rwanda, far more than when they first captured Goma and held it for several days in 2012, when the conflict was sparked by ethnic tensions. Rwanda denies supporting the M23 and states that its troops in eastern DRC are there solely to protect its borders.

On Saturday, thousands of Goma residents returned to the city after the rebels pledged to restore essential services, including water and electricity, to demonstrate their ability to restore order and govern. However, food remains scarce, many market stalls are empty, and medical supplies are difficult to obtain. "I am tired and don't know where to go. People are mourning in every corner," said Jean Marcus, 25, who lost at least one relative in the fighting.

Aid organizations and the United Nations have stated that while the fighting has subsided, the fall of Goma has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, as the city is a major humanitarian hub for the 6 million displaced people in the broader conflict in the region. Mercy Corps' Country Director in the DRC, Rose Twenbo, said that humanitarian operations have come to a standstill, cutting off a vital lifeline for aid delivery to eastern DRC. "The escalation of violence towards Bukavu raises concerns about larger displacements, and the breakdown of humanitarian access leaves entire communities without support," she said.

Doctors Without Borders stated on Friday that they had limited medical supplies remaining and had ceased providing assistance to people in displacement camps. The World Food Programme said that they had evacuated staff and suspended operations. Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, stated on Friday that the rebel advance had led to extrajudicial killings and the forced recruitment of civilians. Mr. Laurence also stated that DRC forces have also been accused of committing sexual violence in the conflict, adding that the UN is verifying reports that DRC forces raped 52 women in the South Kivu region.