Life in Goma a year after AFC/M23 control (Photos) #rwanda #RwOT

However, after a year under the control of the AFC/M23, significant changes are evident.

The city now shows greater organization, with residents following a routine that includes weekly community clean-up activities, locally known as Salongo. Most importantly, improved security has enabled people to work freely, both during the day and at night.

This transformation is immediately noticeable upon arrival at the Grande Barrière border post, which links the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Previously, crossing into Rwanda was an easy process once the necessary requirements were met. However, problems arose when you reached the DRC side, where immigration officers would sometimes demand a $20 bribe to stamp your passport, delaying your progress until you gave them a 'Kitu Kidogo' (a small gift).

Now, things have changed at the DRC immigration office. Young men and women, dressed neatly, ensure all requirements are met before allowing travelers to continue on their journey.

Before, crossing the border could feel like entering a den of thieves. As you crossed into Goma, you would find women and men sitting along the road, sometimes with tables, each demanding money. Some claimed it was for taxes, while others said it was for various government programs. You could easily end up paying around $100.

Extortion didn't end there. Just a little further along, you would encounter police officers on the streets who would demand money from citizens, some even extorting drivers by threatening them with fines for no reason.

A year later, all of this has become history. One of the telltale signs that you have reached Goma was the amount of waste on the streets. It was not uncommon for residents to collect their trash and dump it in the middle of the road.

Despite this, Congolese people would often claim that Goma was the cleanest city in the country. Nowadays, if someone were to do that, they might face severe punishment from the current authorities.

Before AFC/M23 took control of Goma, the city had become a battleground between FARDC, FDLR, and Wazalendo soldiers, which led to constant insecurity.

One local leader from North Kivu shared that, at least every night, four or five people would be killed, either shot or executed with traditional weapons. Those who survived were either robbed or mistreated.

It had reached a point where a member of the FDLR could be starving in the city, only to find a motorcycle and start working as a taxi driver. This is why robberies and killings by motorcyclists were so common.

When the situation wasn't good enough, members of FDLR and Wazalendo would disguise themselves as passengers, and when they boarded a motorcycle, they would rob the driver and steal their bike.

Out of fear, Goma residents often sought refuge in their homes by 6:00 PM.
Today, residents of the city attest all of this became history.

"These men (AFC/M23) brought us security, and they don't talk much. Now, we work day and night. The only thing we could die for is breaking the law," a resident of Goma told IGIHE.

Residents also claim that the behavior of AFC/M23 soldiers is completely different from that of FARDC soldiers. One of the young men I met at the North Kivu Provincial office told me he had just registered to join the AFC/M23 army.

When I asked why he made this decision, he simply said, "The M23 soldiers dress well, they pass calmly, and they don't talk much."

When I asked him how the FARDC behaved, he replied, "They rush, stomp their feet, and look unkempt."

This is likely why many FARDC soldiers joined M23 after being defeated in battle.
Another issue that had troubled the people of Goma was the lack of water and electricity.
It wasn't unusual to go two months without water.

Once AFC/M23 took control of the city, they immediately focused on resolving this problem, which they found was not a difficult challenge. Denying water to the residents was a tactic used by those who had an interest in controlling the supply.

Some government officials had bought water tankers to distribute water in exchange for money. To secure these contracts, they would cut off the water supply to the residents.

One of the leaders from the city's main hospital said, "The lack of water significantly contributed to the number of patients who arrived with diseases caused by poor sanitation."

The issue of electricity was also undeniable. The hospital official mentioned that every day, they would have to use petrol to power a generator to keep patients on life support machines running, as the electricity was frequently interrupted.

Currently, the AFC/M23 leadership has focused on repairing roads, bus stations, parking lots, and more.