Civilians fleeing the ongoing clashes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo carry their belongings after crossing the border with Rwanda at the La Corniche border post in Gisenyi, Jan. 29, 2025. (Credit: Tony Karumba/AFP)
“My house is very close to the border. When I saw on Tuesday that the rebels opened the crossing, I took the opportunity to head to Rwanda with my family.” This is how a Lebanese resident of Goma, the main city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), described to L’Orient-Le Jour his temporary exile in the neighboring country with his wife and children. “We were scared, very scared. It’s a real war, with rockets, bombs and everything," added the father, who preferred to remain anonymous. The situation in Goma deteriorated Sunday evening with the arrival of M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels, an anti-government armed group that took control of the city after about two days, including its airport. Their entry into the capital of North Kivu province, near the Rwandan border, follows weeks of advances by Rwandan soldiers and...
“My house is very close to the border. When I saw on Tuesday that the rebels opened the crossing, I took the opportunity to head to Rwanda with my family.” This is how a Lebanese resident of Goma, the main city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), described to L’Orient-Le Jour his temporary exile in the neighboring country with his wife and children. “We were scared, very scared. It’s a real war, with rockets, bombs and everything," added the father, who preferred to remain anonymous. The situation in Goma deteriorated Sunday evening with the arrival of M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels, an anti-government armed group that took control of the city after about two days, including its airport. Their entry into the capital of North Kivu province, near the Rwandan border, follows weeks of advances by Rwandan...