At least 130 people, including sick and wounded patients, were abducted from hospitals in Goma by M23 rebels, the United Nations reported on Monday.
The UN stated that last week, the rebel group removed 116 individuals from CBCA Ndosho hospital and 15 from Heal Africa hospital, claiming they were members of the Congolese army or pro-government militias.
“We are gravely concerned for the safety and wellbeing of at least 130 sick and wounded men the M23 rebels abducted last week from two hospitals in Goma,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office. “It is deeply distressing that M23 is snatching patients from hospital beds in coordinated raids and holding them incommunicado in undisclosed locations.”
A staff member at CBCA hospital, speaking anonymously, confirmed the abductions, which took place between Sunday night and Monday morning. “Around 3:00 am, we had a visit from the M23 who took all the soldiers who were here and their caregivers,” the employee told AFP. Five civilians were also taken but were later released.
Since resuming their armed campaign in 2021, M23 fighters have seized vast areas of the mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, including the North Kivu provincial capital Goma in January. The group has since been asserting control over the region, which has endured conflict for more than 30 years.
Rwanda has denied providing military support to M23. However, a UN experts’ report concluded that Kigali maintains at least 4,000 troops in eastern DR Congo and exerts control over the armed group. The report also accused Rwanda of using M23 to exploit the region’s natural resources, including gold and coltan.
