M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, have abducted at least 130 patients from two hospitals in eastern Congo, according to the United Nations. The attack took place on February 28, when fighters stormed the CBCA Ndosho Hospital and Heal Africa Hospital in Goma, a strategic city they captured earlier this year.
The rebels took 116 patients from CBCA and 15 from Heal Africa, suspecting them of being Congolese soldiers or members of a pro-government militia. UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani condemned the raids, calling it “deeply distressing” that the rebels were abducting vulnerable patients from their hospital beds and holding them in unknown locations.
The M23 group’s actions come amid a broader escalation of violence in eastern Congo, where the rebels have killed around 3,000 people since the beginning of the year. In a swift offensive, they seized Goma and Bukavu, two major cities in the region. The area is rich in valuable resources like gold and coltan, which are crucial for electronics production.
The UN reports that the M23 group is backed by 4,000 Rwandan troops, and the rebels claim they are fighting to protect Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan origin from discrimination. Rwanda and Congo have been engaged in a long-standing dispute, with accusations of each side supporting opposing ethnic militias.
The conflict has led to mounting humanitarian concerns, with thousands displaced and many more at risk as the violence continues to escalate.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-new-zealand-champions-trophy-8e8ef47bad1a8764aa9cd33780cf1044