Congolese troopers solemnly moved by means of the streets of downtown Goma – with white bands round their heads and their arms empty of weapons.
They’re battered from days of continuous preventing and surrendering to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels taking management of the regional capital and humanitarian hub.
Congolese troopers laid down their fatigues on the street close to the watch posts we noticed them in simply 24 hours earlier than. The sounds of close by shelling break the sombre temper.
The sense of seize is palpable. However some troopers are nonetheless preventing.
There are pockets of resistance in streets throughout city and the sounds of computerized gunfire and shelling are virtually fixed.
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Congolese troopers have been seen shifting by means of the streets of Goma after surrendering
Our lodge has grow to be a shelter for some households ready to see what occurs subsequent. Because the hours of battle drag on, some are sleeping on couches within the foyer. The lodge workers watch the home windows because the battle involves the road in entrance of our gate.
“I am scared but hoping peace will prevail. I am concerned for my family because I haven’t seen them since yesterday. I have only been communicating with them over the phone,” says 27-year-old driver Bahati Jean Claude.
“I just want the conflict to end. I don’t care who is in charge of Goma, all I care about is peace.”
Peace is way from actuality in Goma proper now – not less than 17 folks have been killed and 370 injured. Prisoners who had been working to flee the central jail on Monday morning managed to interrupt out by the afternoon. Looting was reported within the airport and different elements of city.
In a day of echoing blasts and the crack of bullets, the sounds began from a distinct route. Excessive-level safety sources on the town confirmed mortars and artillery coming from Rwanda as we heard the shift.
What’s the preventing in Democratic Republic of Congo about – and is Rwanda invading?
Battle within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dangers spilling over right into a regional battle, it’s feared, as Rwanda-backed rebels declare to have captured the important thing metropolis of Goma.
The chief of a insurgent alliance that features the M23 group mentioned fighters have taken town, after making vital territorial good points in current weeks.
A whole lot of individuals are being wounded day by day as preventing within the central African nation continues, worsening the humanitarian disaster there.
We spoke to the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) spokesperson, who says they fired into japanese DRC in retaliation.
“Rockets were fired across the DRC/Rwanda border in Rubavu district, western province, and five civilians have lost their lives and 35 were seriously injured,” Brigadier-Normal Ronald Rwivanga tells us on a video name.
“They are currently undergoing medical treatment in the medical facilities nearby. We are just taking all necessary defensive measures to protect the population living along the border.
“And we’ll proceed to play our position, our main position of defending the territory or integrity of Rwanda.”
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‘We’re simply taking all crucial defensive measures,’ Brigadier-Normal Ronald Rwivanga mentioned
All through the day, movies emerged of Congolese troops surrendering to Rwandan troopers – sporting the white headbands we noticed on these strolling on the street in entrance of our lodge.
Brigadier-Normal Rwivanga denies the presence of Rwandan troops in DRC and arms help to M23 rebels.
A UN panel of consultants reported, nonetheless, that round 3,000 to five,000 Rwandan troops have been in DRC as of final yr.
On Sunday, the United Nations Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres referred to as on the RDF to cease supporting the M23 and “to withdraw from the territory of the DRC”.
