Attachments
CRISIS IMPACT OVERVIEW
Since the beginning of 2025, conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has escalated significantly, with the March 23 Movement (M23) non-state armed group and allied Rwandan forces entering Goma, the capital of North Kivu, on 26 January. By 27 January, the M23 had claimed operational control of large parts of the city amid heavy fighting with DRC forces. The fighting had internally displaced over 700,000 people in Goma by 3 February (MSF 24/01/2025; VOA 27/01/2025; BBC 28/01/2025; DW 27/01/2025; WFP 03/02/2025; WHO 03/02/2025).
Until 3 February, the exact number of people killed and injured during the attacks remained unknown, although media outlets report around 900 civilians and a combined MONUSCO and SADC 20 peacekeepers killed, as well as almost 2,900 civilians injured (OCHA 04/02/2025; AA 02/02/2025).
On 3 February, M23 forces announced a ceasefire, halting all hostilities in the eastern region of the country for humanitarian purposes, aimed at providing a safe corridor for humanitarian aid and displaced people (France24 04/02/2025; Democracy Now 04/02/2025).
In December 2024, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) resumed direct operations with M23 rebels in North Kivu, breaking a ceasefire agreement reached with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) on 30 July. The M23’s area of operations and territorial control have also swiftly expanded in recent months. This means that they have not only broken the ceasefire with their operations but also gained territorial control, leading up to the events in Goma (ACLED 14/01/2025; ICCT 09/08/2024).
Until 27 January 2025, approximately three million people, including 1.5 million children, lived in Goma. This population included one million displaced people, who are particularly vulnerable in the current crisis given pre-existing conditions, such as prior conflict-related displacement, a lack of permanent housing, disease outbreaks, and exposure to environmental hazards and volcanic activity (STC 27/01/2025; Reuters 10/07/2024; Africanews 27/05/2021). Women, children, older people, and people with disabilities face heightened risks while living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, where access to food, water, and healthcare is limited (WFP 26/01/2025).
The humanitarian impact has been devastating. Hospitals, including Ndosho and Charité Maternelle General Hospitals, are overwhelmed, operating far beyond their capacity with the influx of injured civilians. Explosive remnants from clashes have caused injuries, and access to displacement camps remains impossible. Reports also highlight incidents of sexual violence, including gang rape, and severe risks for children, such as malnutrition, separation from families, and exploitation (STC 27/01/2025; Unicef 24/01/2025; RFI 27/01/2025). Electricity, internet, and water outages since 24 January have worsened these dire conditions. Until 29 January, only mobile networks were functional (DW 27/01/2025; BBC 28/01/2025; VOA 29/01/2025).
The M23 had previously seized Goma in 2012, holding the city for several days before withdrawing under significant international pressure (DW 28/01/2024). Despite their retreat, tensions between the FARDC and the M23 have persisted, leading to intermittent clashes over the years. In December 2024, a fragile ceasefire agreement between the FARDC and M23 collapsed following renewed M23 attacks in Lubero and Masisi territories. These offensives not only marked a continuation of hostilities but also set the stage for the group’s current escalation into Goma. This latest advance signifies a major escalation in the M23’s stated objectives and risks, aggravating the already dire humanitarian situation in eastern DRC (ISW 24/01/2025; Council of the EU 25/01/2025).