International churches demand peace: chaos in Goma escalated!

International churches demand peace: chaos in Goma escalated!

in Goma, the capital of the Congolese province of North Kivu, the pro-Ruandic M23 militia took control and declared a ceasefire on February 3, which is only considered a deception to collect military resources, as the country's Catholic Bishops' Conference reports. Representatives of Christian churches met with leaders of the M23 to promote a "social pact for peace and living together". The Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference, Donatia Nshole, said that the armed struggle was not a solution. The interlocutors were open to dialogue and there is hope for negotiations on the settlement of the conflict, so kathpress.at .

The M23 apparently pursues aggressive goals to further expand its influence in the region and recently attacked several villages and refugee camps around Goma. This leads to a massive increase in refugee numbers; According to the United Nations, around 400,000 people have had to leave their homes since January. Reports on "apocalyptic conditions" underline the dramatic humanitarian situation: access to water and the most fundamental infrastructure is no longer available for many. The region has been shaped by persistent violence since the 1990s, whereby the M23 is also supported by Rwanda, which also contributes to the escalation, as

The international community faces the challenge of reacting to the exciting situation. The UN Security Council and the European Union have already moved into a position and are calling for an end to military support for the M23, while Congolese Foreign Minister Rwanda accuses a "declaration of war". The humanitarian conditions deteriorate rapidly, and there is a serious danger that the conflict over the entire region will pass, which could lead to an unprecedented refugee crisis.