Goma Residents Face Severe Hardships Under M23 Rule. Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo — January 27, 2026 A year after the M23 rebel coalition captured the eastern capital of Goma, residents are addressing severe economic hardship, according to local reports.
The Rwanda — backed M23 is one of over 100 armed groups competing for control in the mineral-rich eastern region of Congo, bordering Rwanda.
Since the rebels seized Goma in late January 2025, following a sharp escalation of fighting, more than seven million people have been displaced, making it one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations agency for refugees. At Goma’s central market, once a bustling hub of economic activity, traders now struggle to make ends meet as customers have become scarce.
Espérance Mushashine, a 44-year-old mother of 12 who has been selling vegetables at the market for years, described the challenges faced by small-scale traders like herself.
“Before, we used to buy in bulk at an affordable price. Sales were good and we managed to get by.
Today, prices have risen sharply and, once at the market, customers hardly buy anything anymore,” Mushashine.
Many local businesses have closed, and international companies have left Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. Grâce Omar, a resident, expressed his hopelessness in finding work.
“Even the small consulting contracts that I could hope for here and there (before) have become difficult to hope for today,” Omar.
The economy has been further stifled by the closure of banks and microfinance institutions. University of Goma economics professor Déo Bengeya emphasized the importance of financial institutions for economic recovery: “The closure of banks and microfinance institutions does not facilitate the circulation of capital and currency, nor does it make it easier for the economy to return to normal,” Professor Bengeya.
The humanitarian crisis in Goma has been compounded by heavy battles, leaving many bodies on the streets and overwhelming hospitals, according to Al Jazeera.
Regional officials confirmed that the situation remains critical, with no immediate end in sight. “Further details are expected,” officials stated.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 2*
