### Goma: A City in Mourning and a Thorny Conflict
The recent escalations of violence around Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), highlight an unfolding human and geopolitical tragedy, reopening the scars of a conflict that has lasted for decades. On October 9, 2023, aid workers began piling bodies into a truck outside the morgue of Goma hospital, a tragic scene that underscores not only the urgency of the situation but also the complexity of the forces involved.
With 773 bodies counted and nearly 2,880 wounded, the scale of this humanitarian crisis is growing. The pain of one mother, Chiza Nyenyezi, has grown intense. The death of her son, killed in a clash between military forces, is symptomatic of a war that does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. From a sociological perspective, this raises questions about the place of human life in a context of conflict where victims are often made invisible.
#### A Multidimensional Conflict
As the M23 rebel movement, supported by four thousand Rwandan soldiers, has taken control of Goma, analysts agree that pushing back these troops will be more difficult than in 2012. This raises complex strategic considerations. Unlike a traditional military confrontation, the M23 has integrated itself into a network of regional supporters, making the Congolese military and its international allies both predictable and vulnerable.
The repercussions of Rwandan support for these rebels are multiple. Compared to previous moments of heightened tensions, such as during the First Congo War (1996-1997), the current dynamics involve state and non-state actors that complicate any form of negotiation. The bipolarization of the region—between Rwanda on the one hand and the DRC on the other—vitalizes economic interests such as the mineral trade, which are often exploited to the detriment of local populations.
#### A Humanity Exposed
Human losses like those described by Chiza Nyenyezi remind us that behind every statistic lies a personal story, a family tragedy. This is not an isolated phenomenon; each death engenders a world of suffering, of shattered memories. Beyond the immediate pain, these events foment a cycle of violence, despair, and civic disengagement. Younger generations, sacrificed on the altar of this conflict, often find themselves embroiled in values of revenge instead of peacefully building their community.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of Congolese are suffering the consequences of a long and devastating conflict, with an increased prevalence of infectious diseases due to precarious living conditions. The lack of a robust health system exacerbates this crisis, highlighting the need for an original response that is not limited to the military aspect.
#### Towards a Reflection on Governance and Regional Cooperation
Faced with this impasse, the way forward could involve a reassessment of governance strategies and regional partnerships. Peace agreements, often new, certainly, but rarely rigorously implemented, must focus not only on disarmament, but also on economic and social development.
An integrated approach that engages local communities, traditional leaders and youth could prove fruitful. The creation of forums for dialogue, while promoting a plural Congolese identity, could work towards reconciliation and the socio-economic revival of war-torn cities. Compared to active conflict resolution efforts in other regions of the world, Goma could benefit from such a regenerative initiative, which puts people at the center of the strategy.
### Conclusion
The situation in Goma is a stark reminder of the duality of conflict: a struggle for power that is accompanied by human disasters. Building lasting peace will require efforts well beyond military operations. It will require a sincere commitment from local and international actors to address the root causes of violence and to put in place prevention and care mechanisms that aim to rehabilitate a fractured social fabric. The road ahead is fraught with pitfalls, but it is essential to ensure that the cries of the victims are not met with the silence of the ignorant. The lessons of the past are there to guide the future, if only we take the time to understand them.