Congo rebels pull out, but city is still fearful
Goma residents worry army is worse as ‘neutral force’ arrives to keep peace
NAIROBI, KENYA— The rebel group that recently captured Goma, a strategic city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, pulled out hundreds of troops on Saturday, but Goma was still waiting to exhale.
Residents packed the streets to watch the rebels chug out of town in big trucks, with rebel soldiers belting out victory songs as they left.
“We saw combat, and the enemy ran away,” the rebels cheered. Another verse: “We’re leaving, but we’ll be back soon.”
The rebels, called the M23, were under intense international pressure to leave Goma after a humiliating defeat of Congolese forces set off a national crisis, with anti-government protests erupting across Congo.
As much as Goma was a coveted prize — it is the capital of North Kivu province and one of Congo’s most vital trade hubs — many rebels said holding the city would have been too much trouble. Saturday, UN officials in Goma confirmed the rebels were finally leaving.
“It’s happening,” said Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, who heads the UN peacekeeping office in North Kivu province. Still, many of Goma’s residents were frightened about what lies ahead. Lawlessness has been increasing in the past week, with home invasions, carjackings and killings on the rise.
“Some people are worried that the army might be even worse than the M23 and that when the army returns they will start stealing,” said one Goma resident who did not want to be identified, fearing reprisals.
Under a peace plan brokered by Congo’s neighbours, the rebels are to withdraw all troops except one company at the airport. A “neutral force” of soldiers from other African countries will also help keep the peace in Goma, a sprawling city of several hundred thousand people.
The rebels are believed to be backed by Rwanda, and a UN document leaked to the New York Times on Friday said Rwandan troops had actually helped capture Goma.