Goma Residents Forced to Adapt Under M23 Rule
In a year marked by intense clashes and chaos, the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become a testing ground for the M23 armed group's rule. With thousands of people killed and hundreds of Rwandan soldiers pouring across the border, residents have been forced to adapt to a new reality of constant oppression.A Year of Chaos
It was January 26 last year when the Congolese army and its allies were forced to pull out of Goma, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The city's residents, including Janvier Kamundu, who was sheltering with his family at home, were caught in the crossfire. 'Suddenly I heard my wife cry out,' he recalled. 'She fell, hit by a stray bullet.' Neighbours bravely came to their aid, and a vehicle was found to transport her to hospital, saving her life.
Life Under M23 Rule
A year on, Goma residents endure constant oppression, says government spokesman Patrick Muyaya. The streets emptied out at nightfall, and the buzz disappeared from the bars that once offered respite in a region scarred by three decades of conflict. Escaped prisoners, militia fighters, and soldiers roamed the city after dark, breaking into homes and threatening residents.
Rough Justice
The M23 began to systematically cordon off neighbourhoods in search of criminals, with local leaders and families ordered to identify upstanding citizens. Those deemed suspicious were hauled off to the city sports stadium, an open-air prison where detainees were separated into categories. Desperate families pleaded for their relatives' release, but those not cleared ended up at secret detention sites.
Economic Strains
The M23's rule has also had a devastating impact on the city's economy. With no functioning banks and trade between Goma and government-controlled areas dwindling, civil servants were among the first to feel the blow. 'There were about 200 agents here, around 20 left to work,' said urban planning officer Claude Mumbere. His name has been modified for security reasons.
A City in Limbo
As the situation drags on, residents are forced to adapt to a new reality. 'We had set aside a small amount of money at home that helped us at first,' said Madeleine Mubuto, mother-of-three. 'But after a year almost all of it is used up.' The city's airport remains inaccessible, and Rwanda's currency has become the norm in Goma's markets.
Goma residents are caught in a cycle of oppression, forced to adapt to a new reality under M23 rule. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the city will not be the same again. With no end in sight, residents can only hold on to hope that peace efforts backed by the United States and Qatar will bring an end to this chaos.
