** Disappearances in Goma: Between concern and inaction, what future for affected families? **
The news on Monday, May 12, 2025, highlights a worrying situation in Goma, in the province of North Kivu, where several dozen people remain missing after security operations carried out by the M23 during the last weekend. While the city is experiencing a persistent tension, it is essential to dive into the context and to explore the human implications of these events.
The security operations, which mobilized several M23 units, mainly affected districts of the outskirts of Goma, such as Rukoko, Ngangi 1 and 2, as well as Kiheru and Murambi. During these interventions, testimonies evoke the arrest of a hundred people, including a large contingent of young people, often without identity document. Part of them would have been released, while a significant number is not found, leaving their families in uncertainty and concern.
General printing is maintained by numerous testimonies from the region. A mother in Rukoko evokes the distress of having seen her 22 -year -old son apprehended just before going to the Church, a situation which looks like that experienced by many families, taken in the gear of institutional violence which seems to make few cases of human rights.
This phenomenon is not limited to an isolated fact. It is part of a broader context of political and social tensions, marked by recurring security clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The M23, which has been involved in various conflicts in the region, is often criticized for its survey and security methods, which can lead to arbitrary abuses and detentions.
The ethical questioning then arises: how to reconcile the need to guarantee the security of the populations with respect for fundamental rights? The clogging, potentially aimed at dismantling armed networks, leave in their wake a lot of human and family tragedies. In this sense, it is crucial to look at the communication mechanisms that can ensure transparency in these operations.
The question of the legality and validity of such actions also arises. If the fight against insecurity and crime is an imperative, respect for human rights should not be sacrificed in the name of security. Families often find themselves without an interlocutor to assert their rights and seek their loved ones, exacerbating their distress.
In short, recent events in Goma are not just simple statistics of disappearances, but illustrate a complex socio -demographic dynamic where security agents, innocent young people, and families in distress intersect. To have a full vision of this situation, it is fundamental to listen to the voices of citizens, to explore the systems in place in depth, and to open a sincere dialogue around human rights and security needs.
The creation of dialogue and commitment frameworks between authorities and communities could be a way to explore to prevent tragedies like this from happening. How can these dynamics be redefined to ensure a future of sustainable peace and security in the region? The examination of the levers of solution, whether political or social, should occupy a central place in the reflection of the actors concerned.
While Goma faces these challenges, humanity remains at the heart of the discussion. The forced disappearances of individuals do not only lead to the loss of a member of the community, they leave deep scars. In a country where injuries of the past are still lively, it is imperative to feed the dialogue bridges to build solid bases towards a peaceful future.