773 Killed in Weeklong Fighting as Rebels Seize Goma

Congolese authorities confirmed the grim toll on Saturday, with 773 bodies recovered and nearly 2,880 people injured. The numbers are expected to rise, as some victims may still be buried in mass graves. "These figures remain provisional,” Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said, adding that the rebels had ordered civilians to clean the streets of Goma, potentially obscuring the full extent of the death and destruction.

As the violence receded, many residents began returning to Goma on Saturday, encouraged by the rebels’ promise to restore basic services like water and electricity. Yet the city was still reeling from the trauma, with debris from weapons scattered across neighborhoods, and the air thick with the scent of blood. “I’m tired and don’t know which way to go. On every corner, there is a mourner,” said Jean Marcus, 25, who lost a relative in the violence.

The M23 rebels, backed by an estimated 4,000 Rwandan troops, have grown more powerful over the years. They are the largest of more than 100 armed groups competing for control in Congo's east, an area rich in mineral resources vital to global technology supply chains. The M23’s capture of Goma is the second time in a decade they have taken the city, following a similar assault in 2012. Experts say the rebels' advances are now even more coordinated and deadly, fueled by significant Rwandan support.

While the fighting continued Saturday, the Congolese military, weakened after losing hundreds of soldiers and foreign mercenaries, managed to recapture several villages in South Kivu’s Kalehe territory. These included Sanzi, Muganzo, and Mukwidja, which had fallen to the rebels earlier in the week. However, with the rebels advancing quickly, the threat to other towns and cities remains high.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said Friday that the M23 and their Rwandan allies were advancing rapidly toward Bukavu, South Kivu's provincial capital, just 60 kilometers north of their current position. If they capture Bukavu and its airport, it would mark a significant strategic victory, further destabilizing the region.

The humanitarian crisis has deepened following Goma's capture, with the city serving as a vital hub for aid to the millions displaced by ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. "The escalation of violence toward Bukavu raises fears of even greater displacement, while the breakdown of humanitarian access is leaving entire communities stranded without support," said Rose Tchwenko, country director for Mercy Corps.

According to the U.N., between January 26 and 30, at least 700 people were killed in Goma and the surrounding area. The World Health Organization and other partners assessed the damage, confirming the death toll. Meanwhile, the rebels have been accused of committing extrajudicial killings, forced conscriptions, and widespread violence. U.N. human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence reported that between January 26 and 28, M23 rebels executed at least 12 people and forcibly recruited civilians. Hospitals and schools have also been occupied, and civilians have been subjected to forced labor.

As the violence escalates, there are disturbing reports that Congolese forces have also committed atrocities, including the rape of at least 52 women in South Kivu. The U.N. is investigating these reports, which contribute to the already dire situation for civilians in the region.

The conflict has brought humanitarian operations to a standstill, severely limiting aid access across eastern Congo. Without a resolution, the crisis risks spiraling further out of control, leaving countless more vulnerable.