Panic sparks in Goma over rumors of forced M23 recruitment

Panic broke out in the Congolese city of Goma on February 25th, after rumors circulated of forced recruitment by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel movement.

According to AfricaNews, Parents arrived at schools to collect their children early, while others fled the city.

M23 authorities and school officials said the allegations of forced recruitment were entirely false. The M23 movement described the allegations as part of a disinformation campaign.

The M23 authorities in Goma, who recently took control of the city, asked the public to remain calm, insisting that no recruitment was taking place in schools, and that their group had never before carried out forced recruitment.

Despite the reassurance, the local population in Goma is still afraid. Local authorities have been tasked with taking steps to reassure the people.

M23 rebels have captured several key cities, following a rapid advance in Eastern DRC, in February they also captured Bukavu. These clashes forced over 100,000 from their homes according to a UN spokesperson.

Advances upon The Democratic Republic of Congo’s major cities have continued, despite international and United Nations pressure for a ceasefire. In early February, the M23 rebels declared a ceasefire, breaking it just 2 days later in a “ploy.”

AfricaNews, Maghrebi, Human Rights Watch