Congo’s President Refuses to Join Peace Talks as Fighting in Goma Worsens

Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes because of violent clashes in eastern DR Congo. However, President Félix Tshisekedi has refused to join peace talks meant to stop the rebel attack on the city of Goma, according to Congo’s state media.

Kenyan President William Ruto invited Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to a virtual meeting to discuss the crisis. But BBC reports that the Congolese leader did not show up. Meanwhile, the situation in Goma remains tense, with dead bodies lying in the streets after days of intense fighting.

Who Is Behind the Fighting?

The rebel group M23 has taken control of large parts of Goma, including the airport. According to the BBC, Rwanda is widely accused of helping these rebels by providing weapons and support. However, Rwanda denies this and says it is not involved.

The United Nations (UN) has gathered strong evidence that Rwanda is backing M23, but the Rwandan government keeps denying it. BBC also reports that around 280 Romanian fighters, who were helping DR Congo’s army, have surrendered to M23, according to Rwanda’s military.

Goma Residents Struggle to Survive

Despite the fighting, BBC reports that parts of Goma were quiet on Wednesday, though occasional gunfire could still be heard. People who had been hiding inside for safety came out to search for food, which is now hard to find due to the ongoing clashes.

The UN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) both have peacekeeping forces in Goma, but BBC confirms that they have failed to stop the rebels from advancing. The deputy head of the UN force, Vivian van de Perre, told BBC Newshour that M23 now controls much of the city but still faces some resistance.

Van de Perre also said UN peacekeepers were finally able to move around again after talks with M23. BBC highlighted that this was critical because some UN bases were running out of food and water, while sheltering thousands of displaced people—including some Congolese soldiers who had surrendered.

M23 Rebels May Be Expanding Their Control

The situation could get even worse. BBC, citing sources from Reuters, reports that M23 is now moving toward Bukavu, DR Congo’s second-largest city. However, BBC has not been able to confirm this claim independently.

Meanwhile, Congo’s official news agency stated that Tshisekedi would not attend the peace talks called by Kenya’s president, who leads the East African Community (EAC). BBC noted that the government did not explain why Tshisekedi refused to participate.

Ethnic Tensions Are Rising

BBC also warns that the conflict is increasing ethnic tensions, which could make the situation even more dangerous. The M23 rebels are mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group. They claim they took up arms to protect the rights of Tutsis living in Congo.

Rwanda’s President Kagame, who is also a Tutsi, has long accused the Congolese government of supporting Hutu militias—some of whom were involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. This has made the conflict even more complicated.

Hospitals Overwhelmed as Protests Erupt

The fighting has left hospitals overwhelmed with wounded people, BBC reports. Bodies are scattered on the streets, and warehouses full of food and medicine have been looted.

Essential services like electricity, water, and internet have also been cut off, making life even harder for civilians. In the capital, Kinshasa, angry protesters have attacked foreign embassies, demanding the international community step in to stop the rebels. BBC confirmed that at least ten embassies were damaged.

Romanian Fighters Caught in the Chaos

BBC reports that Romanian mercenaries, who had been working for the Congolese government, played a major role in defending Goma. These private fighters were stationed at key locations, including the airport, until the latest rebel attack forced them to retreat.

Some of these Romanian fighters ended up in Rwanda. BBC quoted Rwanda’s military, which said the Romanians had “surrendered” to M23 and were being taken to the capital, Kigali. However, a UN official told the BBC that the Romanians had actually taken refuge at a UN base before being transported to Rwanda.

One Romanian fighter, identified as Emile, told AFP news agency: “We weren’t on the battlefield. We were here to train and help with artillery. Now, I’m just happy to go back home.”

Why Is This War Happening?

BBC explains that the root of this conflict is not just politics—it is also about money. The eastern region of DR Congo is rich in valuable minerals like gold and coltan. Coltan is a key material used in mobile phones and batteries for electric vehicles.

The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing M23 in order to control these resources, but Rwanda strongly denies it. BBC highlights that this is not the first time Rwanda has been accused of interfering in Congo’s affairs, and tensions between the two countries remain high.

As the rebels tighten their grip on Goma and move toward other cities, the big question remains: Will President Tshisekedi’s decision to skip peace talks make the situation worse?

BBC suggests that without serious negotiations, the crisis could spiral further out of control.

Credit : BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0j4d7v229o

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