Democratic Republic of the Congo (MNN) — On Monday, Rwandan-backed M23 fighters captured Goma, a key city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo bordering Rwanda. A city of 2 million already, Goma was crammed with an additional 300,000 people fleeing M23’s advance.
Government leaders of the DRC called Goma’s fall a “declaration of war” by Rwanda. In the days since then, M23 has captured more cities. It’s an advance that could escalate an already deeply conflicted region.
Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says today’s events can be traced back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
“You had literally nearly a million Tutsis, primarily, that were slaughtered by the majority Hutu people group. What happened as a result of that is Hutu scattered by the hundreds of thousands into neighboring DRC to flee what they felt would be repercussions,” Kelley says.
(May 21, 2013) The populations of Mutaho flee into Goma following a second day of fighting between M23 elements and FARDC soldiers. MONUSCO reinforces its presence in the area. Courtesy of MONUSCO Photos via Wikimedia Commons.
Fast forward to 2012 when M23 formed, and then to where it is today. “The M23 is led by ethnic Tutsis. They say that their objective is to protect the rights of their minority from the Hutu in the area.”
But another key factor is the DRC’s extraordinary wealth of natural resources, Kelley says. The DRC is rich in minerals such as gold, diamonds, and cobalt. Other powers want access to these resources.
Millions of Congolese are paying for this conflict-turned-humanitarian-crisis. Kelley says the global church must remember the gospel call as the hands and feet of Christ.
“The church doesn’t have to stand on the sidelines just because there’s war. One of the great frustrations I have is the more chaotic and unstable places get, the church passes and they let the UN do it. I say the Body of Christ should be leading the charge and should be responsibly engaging to helping these precious people that are suffering right now.”
Many of the Congolese are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Ask God where your place in their story is.
“Unknown Nations has been involved in that area (of practical assistance). We’d be happy to facilitate connections so that people can be a part of it,” Kelley says.
Pray also for God to use this terrible conflict to point those who don’t know Him to faith in Christ. Pray for peace to be reached between the DRC and Rwanda. To learn more and get involved, connect with Unknown Nations through their contact page.
Header image: See Goma at the tip of Lake Kivu bordering Rwanda. Image by JRC, EC courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109167057).
