In a statement on X, Bisimwa accused the Kinshasa regime of engaging in a shameful controversy over the matter. He insisted that the fallen soldiers, comprising FARDC troops and allied groups, including Wazalendo, FDLR, FDNB, and mercenaries were killed in battle after rejecting a chance to surrender.
"It is well known and widely acknowledged, through videos that circulated around the world, that the defeated FARDC and their allies refused to comply with the order from our forces to surrender their weapons to MONUSCO and be confined at the Stade de l'Unité," Bisimwa stated.
According to the M23 leader, the Congolese forces instead chose to fight in the city center, where they were ultimately neutralized. He revealed that their bodies were collected by health authorities, stored at Goma Hospital's morgue, and later buried.
Bisimwa further claimed that no family in Goma is mourning these deaths, implying that the casualties were exclusively government troops and their foreign allies, rather than civilians.
The Congolese government has not responded directly to Bisimwa's statement, but officials in Kinshasa have previously accused M23 of committing atrocities in Goma.
Currently, the bustling capital of North Kivu Province, is experiencing an unusual calm after days of intense fighting as the M23 rebel group has solidified its control.
However, the city remains a focal point in the ongoing conflict between the rebels and government forces as international observers continue to monitor the situation amid concerns over the humanitarian impact of the fighting.
IGIHE
