Latest news with #Wazalendo
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
HRW warns Rwanda-backed M23 executing DR Congo civilians
HRW warns Rwanda-backed M23 executing DR Congo civilians (AP) KINSHASA: The Rwanda-backed M23 militia has carried out "mass killings" of Congolese civilians in the occupied eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Tuesday. With Rwanda's support, M23 fighters have seized swathes of the DRC's resource-rich east, capturing the key city of Goma in late January, following a lightning offensive. Since then, the M23 has set up to govern the regions under its control for the long term. With hundreds of Congolese soldiers and allied militia fighters having dispersed to avoid capture, the M23 has carried out frequent raids in a bid to stamp its authority on the restive region. In one such raid on February 22 and 23, the armed group "summarily executed at least 21 civilians and most likely many more" near a former Congolese army barracks in Goma's Kasika neighbourhood, HRW said in a statement. A 15-year-old boy was among the bodies found dumped at a building site near the barracks, according to the watchdog. HRW said the lack of fighting and the wounds inflicted "indicated that M23 fighters deliberately executed those in their custody", accusing the armed group of "war crimes". Citing witnesses who gave their testimony to HRW remotely, the rights group said it had "credible information" that the M23 targeted the area because of reports of the presence of the Congolese army and pro-government militiamen. Called "Wazalendo", meaning "patriots" in Swahili, those fighters are sometimes dressed in civilian clothes, making their allegiance to an armed group difficult to determine. "The M23's brutal control over Goma has created a climate of fear among those perceived to be allied to the Congolese government," said Clementine de Montjoye, a senior HRW researcher for the African Great Lakes region. "The mass killings don't seem to be actions by rogue fighters, but rather the M23 leadership's efforts to solidify their control by whatever means necessary," Montjoye added. Urging the international community to pressure Rwanda to end its backing for the M23, the researcher added that the "Rwandan government, as the direct supporter of the M23, may be complicit in the armed group's war crimes". Besides the 22 eyewitness accounts, the watchdog said it had drawn on authenticated video and photographs to reach its conclusions. HRW said it had on May 23 contacted the M23's spokesman, Lawrence Kanyuka, but had not received a response by the time of publication. Responding on X, Kanyuka accused HRW of publishing "a propaganda instrument", complaining of a "lack of professionalism in certain human rights organisations". Kanyuka last week slammed allegations from HRW's fellow rights group, Amnesty International, that the M23 was torturing civilians it had imprisoned as "grotesque and unsubstantiated".
Korea Herald
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
At least 50 people killed in east Congo as government and Rwanda-backed rebels trade blame
GOMA, Congo (AP) — At least 50 people were killed in weekend attacks in Congo's conflict-battered east, authorities said Saturday. The government traded blame with Rwanda-backed rebels over who was responsible for the violence that quickly escalated the conflict in the region. The renewed violence that residents reported in and around the region's largest city of Goma — which the M23 rebels control — was the biggest threat yet to ongoing peace efforts by both the Gulf Arab state of Qatar and African nations in the conflict that has raised fears of regional warfare. Goma resident Amboma Safari recounted how his family of four spent the night under their bed as they heard gunfire and bomb blasts through Friday night. 'We saw corpses of soldiers, but we don't know which group they are from,' Safari said. In the second city of Bukavu, which the M23 also controls, dozens of the armed Wazalendo local militia members who fight alongside Congolese forces marched for a few hours towards the local airport as they appeared to stage a challenge against the rebels. The group, which later retreated, declared a ceasefire on Sunday to give ongoing peace talks 'a chance.' The decades-long conflict between Congo and the M23 rebels escalated in January , when the rebels made an unprecedented advance and seized the strategic eastern Congolese city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The latest fighting has killed some 3,000 people and worsened what was already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with around 7 million people displaced. In a statement, Congo's Ministry of Interior said 52 people were killed between Friday and Saturday, including a person shot dead at Goma's Kyeshero Hospital. The ministry blamed the attack on M23. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka blamed Congolese forces and their allies for the attacks. Kanyuka said in a statement that Congo's joint operations with local militias and southern African troops 'directly threaten the stability and security of civilians' in the region. The group said it has been compelled to 'reconsider its position to prioritize the security' of the people in the area, suggesting the crisis could worsen. Christian Kalamo, a civil society leader in the North Kivu province that includes Goma, said at least one body was seen on the streets on Saturday. 'It is difficult to know if it is the Wazalendo, the FARDC (Congolese forces) or the M23" that carried out the attacks, Kalamo said. 'Now, we don't know what will happen, and we live with fear in our stomachs, thinking that the war will resume.'
Arab News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Dozens reported killed in east Congo as government, rebels trade blame
GOMA: At least 50 people were killed in weekend attacks in Congo's conflict-battered east, authorities said Saturday. The government traded blame with Rwanda-backed rebels over who was responsible for the violence that quickly escalated the conflict in the region. The renewed violence that residents reported in and around the region's largest city of Goma — which the M23 rebels control — was the biggest threat yet to ongoing peace efforts by both the Gulf Arab state of Qatar and African nations in the conflict that has raised fears of regional warfare. Goma resident Amboma Safari recounted how his family of four spent the night under their bed as they heard gunfire and bomb blasts through Friday night. 'We saw corpses of soldiers, but we don't know which group they are from,' Safari said. The decades-long conflict between Congo and the M23 rebels escalated in January, when the rebels made an unprecedented advance and seized the strategic eastern Congolese city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The latest fighting has killed some 3,000 people and worsened what was already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with around 7 million people displaced. At least 52 people were killed between Friday and Saturday, including a person shot dead at Goma's Kyeshero Hospital, Congo's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that blamed the attack on M23. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka issued a statement blaming Congolese forces and their allies for the attacks. Kanyuka said Congo's joint operations with local militias and southern African troops 'directly threaten the stability and security of civilians' in the region. The group said it has been compelled to 'reconsider its position to prioritize the security' of the people in the area, suggesting the crisis could worsen. Christian Kalamo, a civil society leader in the North Kivu province that includes Goma, said at least one body was seen on the streets on Saturday. 'It is difficult to know if it is the Wazalendo, the FARDC (Congolese forces) or the M23' that carried out the attacks, Kalamo said. 'Now, we don't know what will happen, and we live with fear in our stomachs, thinking that the war will resume.'
The Independent
13-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Dozens are reported killed in east Congo as the government and Rwanda-backed rebels trade blame
At least 50 people were killed in weekend attacks in Congo's conflict-battered east, authorities said Saturday. The government traded blame with Rwanda-backed rebels over who was responsible for the violence that quickly escalated the conflict in the region. The renewed violence that residents reported in and around the region's largest city of Goma — which the M23 rebels control — was the biggest threat yet to ongoing peace efforts by both the Gulf Arab state of Qatar and African nations in the conflict that has raised fears of regional warfare. Goma resident Amboma Safari recounted how his family of four spent the night under their bed as they heard gunfire and bomb blasts through Friday night. 'We saw corpses of soldiers, but we don't know which group they are from,' Safari said. The decades-long conflict between Congo and the M23 rebels escalated in January, when the rebels made an unprecedented advance and seized the strategic eastern Congolese city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The latest fighting has killed some 3,000 people and worsened what was already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with around 7 million people displaced. At least 52 people were killed between Friday and Saturday, including a person shot dead at Goma's Kyeshero Hospital, Congo's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that blamed the attack on M23. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka issued a statement blaming Congolese forces and their allies for the attacks. Kanyuka said Congo's joint operations with local militias and southern African troops 'directly threaten the stability and security of civilians' in the region. The group said it has been compelled to 'reconsider its position to prioritize the security' of the people in the area, suggesting the crisis could worsen. Christian Kalamo, a civil society leader in the North Kivu province that includes Goma, said at least one body was seen on the streets on Saturday. 'It is difficult to know if it is the Wazalendo, the FARDC (Congolese forces) or the M23" that carried out the attacks, Kalamo said. 'Now, we don't know what will happen, and we live with fear in our stomachs, thinking that the war will resume.' —— Kamale reported from Kinshasa, Congo.
Washington Post
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Dozens are reported killed in east Congo as the government and Rwanda-backed rebels trade blame
GOMA, Congo — At least 50 people were killed in weekend attacks in Congo's conflict-battered east, authorities said Saturday. The government traded blame with Rwanda-backed rebels over who was responsible for the violence that quickly escalated the conflict in the region. The renewed violence that residents reported in and around the region's largest city of Goma — which the M23 rebels control — was the biggest threat yet to ongoing peace efforts by both the Gulf Arab state of Qatar and African nations in the conflict that has raised fears of regional warfare. Goma resident Amboma Safari recounted how his family of four spent the night under their bed as they heard gunfire and bomb blasts through Friday night. 'We saw corpses of soldiers, but we don't know which group they are from,' Safari said. The decades-long conflict between Congo and the M23 rebels escalated in January , when the rebels made an unprecedented advance and seized the strategic eastern Congolese city of Goma, followed by the town of Bukavu in February. The latest fighting has killed some 3,000 people and worsened what was already one of the world's largest humanitarian crises , with around 7 million people displaced. At least 52 people were killed between Friday and Saturday, including a person shot dead at Goma's Kyeshero Hospital, Congo's Ministry of Interior said in a statement that blamed the attack on M23. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka issued a statement blaming Congolese forces and their allies for the attacks. Kanyuka said Congo's joint operations with local militias and southern African troops 'directly threaten the stability and security of civilians' in the region. The group said it has been compelled to 'reconsider its position to prioritize the security' of the people in the area, suggesting the crisis could worsen. Christian Kalamo, a civil society leader in the North Kivu province that includes Goma, said at least one body was seen on the streets on Saturday. 'It is difficult to know if it is the Wazalendo, the FARDC (Congolese forces) or the M23' that carried out the attacks, Kalamo said. 'Now, we don't know what will happen, and we live with fear in our stomachs, thinking that the war will resume.' —— Kamale reported from Kinshasa, Congo.
