‘All we can do is wait and hope that this madness ends soon’

As fighting rages on in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where rebels claimed to have seized Goma, the DRC’s third-largest city and home to about two million people, thousands of students are among the civilians who are scared and stranded in the area.

Augustin Sadiki, a University World News reporter who is based in Goma, said, on 24 January already, three days before the M23 rebels announced their capture of Goma, that residents, including students, were panicking. On 28 January, Sadiki said he could not, due to the instability of the internet and amid the fighting in the city, get in touch with sources.

Issa Mapendo, a second-year economics student at the University of Goma, has also experienced the instability in the past few days.

“I was preparing to attend my classes when the bombs started exploding in my neighbourhood,” Mapendo said. “We thought we were safe at first, but the fighting advanced quickly, and soon Goma was under siege. I had no choice but to stay indoors. [I was] scared as the shooting continued for hours,” he added.

Mapendo, like thousands of people in the region, fled to Rwanda through the Grande Barrière border, seeking refuge from the escalating violence.

He spoke to University World News as he was headed to the Kijote Transit Camp for refugees in the Rubavu district, unsure of what the future held.

“I am worried about my education,” he said. “Classes have been interrupted several times due to the ongoing conflict, and I am unsure when I will be able to return to campus. I would be in my final year, had it not been for this endless fighting.”

On 27 January, Rwandan authorities received nearly 2,000 refugees, including many United Nations employees and humanitarian workers who had been caught in the fighting. The refugees were brought from Rubavu transit camps.

“The situation is dire, and we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of those fleeing the violence,” a Rwandan official said.

Higher education

Apart from universities in Goma city in the DRC, two universities have closed their campuses in Rwanda’s Rubavu district in the Western province.

They are campuses of the Kigali Independent University and of the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies.

Claire Mushimiyimana, a third-year tourism student from Rwanda, has described to University World News her experience fleeing from Rubavu to the capital of Rwanda, Kigali.

“We were safe until bombs started falling on Rwanda. People were panicking, and we had no choice but to leave for our safety,” Mushimiyimana explained.

“Now, all school activities have stopped, and there’s no indication when they will resume. We are living in uncertainty as refugees continue to stream across the border.”

The situation has grown dire as violence has spilled into Rwanda. Artillery shells fired from the DRC recently killed at least five Rwandan civilians and injured 35 more, according to Rwanda’s army spokesperson Brigadier General Ronald Rwivanga.

An ongoing conflict

The conflict, which has gripped the region since 2021, shows no sign of subsiding.

The M23 rebel group, which has been fighting the Congolese government forces (FARDC), claims it is defending the rights of the ethnic Tutsi minority in the region.

The rebels that claimed to have captured Goma argue that they are fighting to protect their people after decades of promises broken by the Congolese government, according to reports.

They originally rose to prominence in 2012, seizing the city of Goma before being pushed back by Congolese and United Nations forces.

Despite agreeing to integrate into the national army in exchange for promises of protection for Tutsis, the M23 resumed fighting in 2021, accusing the government of failing to honour these commitments. Since then, the group has regained significant ground, including the recent capture of Goma.

Despite numerous international attempts to broker peace, the fighting continues, leaving entire communities displaced.

The fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government is further complicated by the involvement of several foreign factions. The government coalition includes the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), European mercenaries, and the South Africa-led SADC (Southern African Development Community) forces.

What does the future hold for students?

The impact on students in Goma and the surrounding areas has been devastating. With schools and universities closed, many students are uncertain about their futures.

In addition to the violence and displacement, the lack of education has created a generation of young people whose aspirations are at risk – and who run the risk of being lured to join the military.

For many students, like Mapendo, the hope remains that the war will end soon, allowing them to return home and resume their education.

“We hope for peace so that we can return to our studies,” Mapendo said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “But, right now, all we can do is wait and hope that this madness ends soon.”

As the conflict between the M23 rebels and the Congolese government rages on, it is clear that the toll on both the people and the education system in the region is severe. With no end in sight, the future for students caught in the crossfire remains uncertain.