The capture of Goma by Rwanda-supported M23 rebels has plunged eastern Congo into chaos, with displaced military families now facing forced conscription and systematic harassment. As the M23 rebellion expands control over mineral-rich territories, wives and children of Congolese soldiers report violent evictions from barracks and threats of recruitment into rebel ranks.
Francine Kayenga, a pregnant widow sheltering in a school-turned-camp, told the AP:
I cry every night. If I didn’t have my children, I would have ended my life.Her testimony echoes dozens of families now crammed into temporary shelters with dwindling resources.
Key developments in the Congo crisis include:
- 4,000 Rwandan troops reportedly reinforcing M23 positions
- UN verification of child soldier recruitment in Bukavu
- 2,000+ conflict-related deaths since January offensive
Unlike their 2012 withdrawal under international pressure, M23 now openly challenges President Tshisekedi's government. Rebel commanders promise to cleansecities of alleged corruption while expanding territorial control. The UN Human Rights Office reports:
Cases of child and forced recruitment, plus summary executions, demand immediate international intervention.
At Furaha Primary School, 37-year-old Mwamini Tusawe describes the uncertainty: Our homes burned, husbands missing - we don't know where to go when schools reopen.Mothers now sell belongings for food, with many reporting rebel patrols hunting for hidden soldiers.
Humanitarian conditions deteriorate as Rwanda's involvement escalates regional tensions. With 100+ armed groups active in Congo's east, analysts warn this crisis could destabilize Central Africa's fragile security framework. As classrooms fill with displaced families instead of students, the AP verified:
- 19 military bases emptied of families since January
- 10+ schools converted to emergency shelters
- 300+ children potentially conscripted
Lucie Mapasa recounts M23 soldiers threatening her shelter: They pointed guns demanding my husband. I showed them his grave.With food supplies collapsing and no ceasefire in sight, Congo's humanitarian catastrophe deepens daily.
