### Goma: Fragile Renewal in the Heart of Chaos
Barely a week after the capture of Goma by the M23 rebels, the Kivu city, located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is beginning a process of returning to normality. This picture, tinged with a mixture of hope and despair, invites us to reflect on the systemic challenges that continue to affect this region, where war seems to have established its deep roots.
**A return to life, but at what price?**
Shops are reopening their doors, markets are beginning to vibrate to the rhythm of a few customers but eager to resume their habits, and traffic is slowly returning to the avenues of Goma. The words of Fiston Kisuli, a trader who has chosen to resume his activity despite the risks, illustrate the resilience of the inhabitants. “We must feed our children,” he emphasizes, highlighting this puzzle where daily survival and fear coexist.
However, behind this semblance of rebirth, the scars left by the conflict remain gaping. The signs of looting, omnipresent in the city, are a brutal reminder of the intensity of the violence suffered. The testimonies of Fabrice Kiti and Alexis Nsabimana, evoking the monumental theft and destruction of the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouses, reveal a darker reality: that of an already vulnerable population whose basic needs are still threatened, exacerbated by a precarious economic situation.
**A vicious cycle dynamic: war and poverty**
To fully grasp the complexity of the situation in Goma, it is essential to study the vicious cycle that reflects how conflict, fueled by political and economic issues, collaborates with chronic instability. When examining the data, we see that countries like the DRC remain among the poorest in the world, despite their wealth of natural resources. For example, although the DRC has significant reserves of coltan, copper, and diamonds, the majority of the population lives on less than $1.90 per day, according to the World Bank. This stark contrast between wealth and poverty fuels frustrations, making conflicts even more accessible.
This socio-economic reality, combined with the legacy of political instability, including tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, not only fosters revolts like the M23, but also creates a climate of anxiety that paralyzes peace and reconstruction efforts. Indeed, displaced populations flee conflict-affected regions to end up in camps where living conditions are dire, thus increasing humanitarian demand in already overburdened areas..
**The Urgent Need for International Civilian Intervention**
While international and regional organizations, including the African Union, are calling for renewed negotiations under the Luanda Process to ease tensions, a crucial aspect is often overlooked: the need for an intervention focused on civic development. Far from being limited to military solutions, it is imperative that the international community amplify its commitment to the DRC by supporting sustainable development initiatives that generate shared prosperity and reduce sources of conflict.
Investing in education, access to quality health care, and support for local businesses is essential. An approach combining infrastructure rehabilitation, nutrition, and vocational training could transform the lives of Goma residents, making them less dependent on humanitarian aid flows. Furthermore, establishing cross-border exchange mechanisms with Rwanda, by promoting sustainable trade relations, could strengthen ties and help reduce tensions.
**Conclusion: Between rebirth and resilience**
In Goma, the return to ordinary life is a sign of hope, but it is also a call to action for the international community. The path ahead is fraught with pitfalls, and without a renewed commitment that combines peace, socio-economic development and conflict resolution, the city and its residents will remain trapped in a cycle of violence and despair.
The current situation demands more than a simple return to normalcy: it demands a collective commitment to building a future where every student, shopkeeper and parent can live without the constant threat of conflict. Goma’s recovery will depend on the will and concrete actions taken at the local and global levels. Only such an approach can break the vicious cycle of war, misery and instability.