Tragedy in Goma: Eyewitness Accounts of Alleged Mass Killing by M23 Rebels

The alleged massacre involving M23 rebels in the Congolese city of Goma has left locals terrified and mourning. Eyewitnesses describe a deadly attack that claimed the lives of many young men, including activist and rapper Freddy Mukuza. As the situation in the region remains dire, survivors express their fears of further violence and oppression.

'They killed all these young people' - BBC investigates alleged massacre in rebel-held Congolese city.

Freddy Mukuza, a 31-year-old rapper, was shot by M23 rebels during a chaotic scene that left between 17 to 22 people dead in his neighborhood of Kasika, Goma. Eyewitness Justin, who witnessed Mukuza’s final moments, recounted how they were prevented from retrieving his body until after he died. The attack on civilians occurred less than a month after M23 rebels took control of Goma, prompting fears of ongoing violence as armed groups operate freely. Reports suggest that the rebels targeted an area near a former Congolese army base due to its strategic significance.

Following the assault, local officials have not released an official death toll, and many residents claim that the M23 operates without consequence. Common perceptions depict the rebels supported by neighboring Rwanda, which denies allegations of its complicity. Allegations of previous atrocities have shadowed the group, now accused of further violence and terror.

Mukuza was a civil representative and activist who highlighted the struggles faced by the Congolese people. On the day he was killed, he was moving to a new home with family members. Tragically, his relatives were also shot by the rebels during the chaos. Their losses have exacerbated the trauma felt by those who witnessed the massacre, with survivors like Justin retreating into silence, fearing recruitment or further violence.

The attack drew attention on social media due to a video showing ten victims left in a heap. Such graphic documentation sparked outrage, forcing the issue to be recognized beyond local confines. The rapidly escalating situation in Goma and its surrounding areas has raised alarms, with fears that M23 might extend their control towards Kinshasa, the capital.

As families mourn their losses, Kasika is now engulfed in terror, replete with the threat of violent recruitment and the chilling specter of the M23's reign, leaving communities trapped in a cycle of fear and mourning with little hope for reprieve.