People protest in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels' advances into eastern Congos capital Goma.
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Despite the country having mineral resources estimated at a value of $24 trillion, The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced civil war, instability and exploitation for well over 30 years.
People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the centre of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
Current Crisis
M23 rebels backed by the Rwandan government have almost seized key city Goma amid fierce fighting with Congolese government forces. The rebel group, predominately ethnic Tutsi’s, broke away from the national army in 2022.
The Tutsis and Hutus are the main separate ethnic groups located in Congo and have been in and out of conflict with each other, the worst loss of life being the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where an estimated 600,000 Tutsis were killed with many fleeing to the Congo.
People protest in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels’ advances into eastern Congo’s capital Goma.(AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)
A group of UN experts maintains the stance that the Rwandan army is in “de facto control of M23 operations”, detailing how M23 recruits are trained under Rwandan supervision and supplied with Rwandan weaponry.
A city home to around two million people, Goma is a key regional hub for trade, security and humanitarian efforts. The city lies at the foot of a volcano near Lake Kivu, which sits on the border with Rwanda.
It is the capital of mineral-rich North Kivu province – and is an important trading and humanitarian hub and the base for the UN’s largest peacekeeping mission.
Since the conflict first begun, Rwandan President Kagame has repeatedly denied any involvement in supporting M23 rebels pursuit of control.
While the casualty toll remains unclear, hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed with injuries resulting from the rebel incursion.
People wounded in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces arrive at the Cbeca Ndosho hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
‘Congolese suffering has followed me to London’
City News spoke to Jeni Kulumba, 49, who owns a small cake shop in Newham. She fled to London 25 years ago in the midst of the Second Congo war.
Jeni exasperated she almost feels guilty on the hardship and insecurity the Congo still faces; ‘Me, my sister and my mother left everyone behind.’
Jeni’s aunts and cousins, some of whom she’s never met, live just outside the capital Kishasha, where protesters have descended into the city.
Ultimately her WhatsApp messages are her only way of communicating with her relatives. ‘Its just anxiety when they don’t respond quickly.’
London is home to an estimated 25,000 people who were born in the Congo.
David Lammy urges for de-escalation
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Florence Lo/Pool Photo via AP)
In a message to parliament, foreign secretary David Lammy affirmed the UK would ‘do everything in our power to focus the world on these conflicts and somehow bring them to an end.’
‘Conflict has gripped the east for over 30 years. An M23 rebel offensive at the start of this year had already seized Masisi and Minova. This weekend saw them enter Goma. There is a potential for a further humanitarian catastrophe.’
Organisations taking a stand
Stand for Congo a London based organisation spoke to City News on their plans for an upcoming protest. They hope to voice the suffering of loved ones back home through a sit in at the Rwandan embassy.
A spokesperson told City News they feel Rwanda should be held accountable.
‘We will not sit back and watch, we have family back home and we will fight for them here.
Stand For Congo hope a large enough crowd will attend in support for the protest that aims to hold apply pressure on the Rwandan Embassy
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Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineCongolese Londoners remain fearful for relatives safety back home
Short HeadlineCongolese Londoners fearful for relatives safety
StandfirstAs Rwandan backed M23 rebels capture key city Goma, City News spoke to individuals and organisations in London who are tired of Congo's instability
Despite the country having mineral resources estimated at a value of $24 trillion, The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced civil war, instability and exploitation for well over 30 years.
People displaced by the fighting with M23 rebels make their way to the centre of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
Current Crisis
M23 rebels backed by the Rwandan government have almost seized key city Goma amid fierce fighting with Congolese government forces. The rebel group, predominately ethnic Tutsi’s, broke away from the national army in 2022.
The Tutsis and Hutus are the main separate ethnic groups located in Congo and have been in and out of conflict with each other, the worst loss of life being the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where an estimated 600,000 Tutsis were killed with many fleeing to the Congo.
People protest in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels’ advances into eastern Congo’s capital Goma.(AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)
A group of UN experts maintains the stance that the Rwandan army is in “de facto control of M23 operations”, detailing how M23 recruits are trained under Rwandan supervision and supplied with Rwandan weaponry.
A city home to around two million people, Goma is a key regional hub for trade, security and humanitarian efforts. The city lies at the foot of a volcano near Lake Kivu, which sits on the border with Rwanda.
It is the capital of mineral-rich North Kivu province – and is an important trading and humanitarian hub and the base for the UN’s largest peacekeeping mission.
Since the conflict first begun, Rwandan President Kagame has repeatedly denied any involvement in supporting M23 rebels pursuit of control.
While the casualty toll remains unclear, hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed with injuries resulting from the rebel incursion.
People wounded in the fighting between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces arrive at the Cbeca Ndosho hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
‘Congolese suffering has followed me to London’
City News spoke to Jeni Kulumba, 49, who owns a small cake shop in Newham. She fled to London 25 years ago in the midst of the Second Congo war.
Jeni exasperated she almost feels guilty on the hardship and insecurity the Congo still faces; ‘Me, my sister and my mother left everyone behind.’
Jeni’s aunts and cousins, some of whom she’s never met, live just outside the capital Kishasha, where protesters have descended into the city.
Ultimately her WhatsApp messages are her only way of communicating with her relatives. ‘Its just anxiety when they don’t respond quickly.’
London is home to an estimated 25,000 people who were born in the Congo.
David Lammy urges for de-escalation
Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Florence Lo/Pool Photo via AP)
In a message to parliament, foreign secretary David Lammy affirmed the UK would ‘do everything in our power to focus the world on these conflicts and somehow bring them to an end.’
‘Conflict has gripped the east for over 30 years. An M23 rebel offensive at the start of this year had already seized Masisi and Minova. This weekend saw them enter Goma. There is a potential for a further humanitarian catastrophe.’
Organisations taking a stand
Stand for Congo a London based organisation spoke to City News on their plans for an upcoming protest. They hope to voice the suffering of loved ones back home through a sit in at the Rwandan embassy.
A spokesperson told City News they feel Rwanda should be held accountable.
‘We will not sit back and watch, we have family back home and we will fight for them here.
Stand For Congo hope a large enough crowd will attend in support for the protest that aims to hold apply pressure on the Rwandan Embassy
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