Pope urges enhanced efforts to resolve issues in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pope Francis ranted about the chaotic situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during his general audience in Vatican City. He appealed to every conflict party to commit to a ceasefire and the protection of civilians in Goma and other battered zones. His concerns were also directed towards the harsh scenario unfolding in Kinshasa, praying for an immediate end to any sort of physical violence.
He emotionally urged the international community to throw their weight behind resolving the DRC's blow-up dilemma peacefully.
In the past few days, the M23, an armed group mostly consisting of Tutsi refugees who fled Rwanda's 1994 genocide, seized control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, after a series of intense skirmishes with the Congolese Army and their allies.
Rebel tensions with neighboring Rwanda were strained due to accusations by the DRC government that Rwanda has been aiding the M23 – charges supported by both the UN and the Rwandan-M23 alliance itself. In retaliation, they accuse the Congolese Army of colluding with the FDLR, a group formed in 2000 by leaders involved in the 1994 genocide and Rwandan exiles seeking power. These claims have merit here, as they were also confirmed by the UN.
Since January 2025, the M23's advances have forced over a million people from their homes in North and South Kivu, adding to the 7 million displaced individuals who've been wandering for years. Moreover, this appalling humanitarian crisis has caused severe food scarcity, with roughly a quarter of the nation’s population afflicted by acute food insecurity. The 2025 humanitarian aid response plan demands $2.54 billion, but the finances are falling short, causing postponed U.S. aid programs.
It's also essential to note the recent violence in Kinshasa after the strife-filled December 2023 elections, adding to the instability across the nation. However, details regarding recent unrest in Kinshasa are scarce in recent reports. The M23 has also been setting up a parallel banking system and appointing officials in the occupied territories, hinting at a more strategic approach than mere military operations. Furthermore, Rwanda continues to be M23's silent partner, deploying approximately 3,000 to 4,000 troops to support their offensives, according to reports from both the Congolese authorities and the UN.
- The Pope's concerns extend beyond Goma, as he also appeals to the international community to intervene in the ongoing political disputes and war-and-conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in Kinshasa, where recent elections have escalated violence.
- The international community's involvement in resolving the DRC's issues is crucial, given the confirmation of war-and-conflicts-related allegations involving neighboring countries, such as Rwanda, supporting armed groups like the M23, as reported by the UN.
- The Vatican's call for a ceasefire in Goma, echoes the need for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts affecting the DRC, as the M23's advances since January 2025 have displaced over a million people in North and South Kivu, adding to the pre-existing 7 million displaced individuals, creating a severe humanitarian crisis and food scarcity.
- The M23's activities extend beyond military operations, as they have set up a parallel banking system and appointed officials in the occupied territories, suggesting a more strategic approach to their conflict in the DRC, with Rwanda continuing to be a silent partner, supporting M23 offensives with approximately 3,000 to 4,000 troops.
