AFRICA/DR CONGO - Bishop of Goma: "The neonatal ward at the Charité Maternelle General Hospital is affected by fighting"

Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) - Fighting continues in Goma, the capital of North Kivu, which the M23 rebels took over between Sunday 26 and Monday 27 January (see Fides, 27/1/2025). The M23 forces are encountering resistance from soldiers of the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and pro-government Wazalando militiamen. Four other South African soldiers from the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC) were killed in the clashes, after nine soldiers had already been killed in the last two days. The clashes are concentrated in the area of the airport, which has now also been taken over by the M23.
The situation in the city remains chaotic. There are fighting, power and communication outages and looting. Residents are fleeing the city. The World Food Programme (WFP) has meanwhile expressed concern about the suspension of the distribution of humanitarian aid in the region, which could lead to severe food shortages in the next 24 hours. In a message published yesterday, January 27, the Bishop of Goma, Willy Ngumbi Ngengele, reported “I am horrified to learn of the bombings, including those targeting the neonatal department of the Charité Maternelle General Hospital, resulting in the deaths of newborns, and the attack on the diocesan procuracy compound, which shattered the windows of the newly inaugurated building”. “I deplore the looting of certain businesses and warehouses by the population and, at times, by the military, further worsening an already dire humanitarian situation,” wrote the Bishop of Goma. “I urge all parties involved in the current armed conflict, as well as the population, to show absolute respect for human life and for private and public infrastructure, which must be preserved by all under any circumstances, in accordance with human dignity and international law” continues Mgr. Ngumbi Ngengele. The Bishop concludes by urging “the Clergy, Consecrated Persons, as well as the faithful, and all people of goodwill, to provide the necessary assistance to anyone in need”. Meanwhile, demonstrations are taking place in Kinshasa against the "invasion of Rwanda in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo." (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 28/1/2025)

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