Rubavu-Goma border operations return to normal after resumption of traffic and trade

By The Inspirer.

Cross-border trade activities between those operating in the Rubavu District in Rwanda and the city of a in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) via the Petite Barrière border have resumed.

This comes just one week after the M23 rebel group took control of the city of Goma.

Before the M23 took over the city, the DRC government had closed the small border connecting Rwanda and the DRC, known as Petite Barrière. This was done to prevent citizens of the DRC from continuing to flee to Rwanda due to ongoing battles between the FARDC (Armed Forces of the DRC) and their allied rebel groups, including SADC forces, Burundian troops, FDLR, Wazalendo, and European mercenaries.

After intense fighting that led to the M23 group capturing Goma, the group’s fighters began overseeing security at the Rwanda-DRC border.

Security has gradually improved in Goma since the M23 fighters defeated the FARDC soldiers and their allies, who had refused to withdraw from the region.

Reports indicate that the Petite Barrière border has been reopened, and the movement of people traveling to or from Goma has resumed. It is expected that citizens will be able to use the border, but it will close at 9:00 PM.

Over the weekend, IGIHE visited various parts of Goma. From the La Corniche border between Rwanda and the DRC, to Bilele, the Governorate, Quartiers les Volcans, and other areas, there was an unusual atmosphere. Residents have resumed their activities as usual, despite the remnants of war still visible. One of the places heavily affected by the fighting is the Goma mountain, known as Mont Goma.

Residents in that area reported that on Tuesday, soldiers who had refused to leave their positions were stationed at the Katindo military camp in the heart of Goma. It was in this Camp Katindo that key positions were held by Wazalendo fighters and FARDC soldiers during the second day of fighting in Goma.

The leaders of the M23 movement recently announced that after taking control of Goma, they would continue their offensive in other areas until they reach Kinshasa in order to remove the administration of Tshisekedi, which they claim is oppressing the people.