In early 2025, two underreported tragedies unfolded: the Eastern Congo conflict and a massacre in post-Assad Syria. In Congo, Rwandan-backed rebels seized the city of Goma, leading to thousands of civilian casualties and displacements. Meanwhile, Syrian HTS militants attacked Alawite communities, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and extreme violence against civilians, heightening instability in the region.
Author: Margarida Veríssimo
Underreported Tragedies
In the first three months of 2025, aside from the horrific and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, two major tragedies that have received less attention have also occurred. In this article, we will report on these two major events.
Eastern Congo Conflict Reopened
In late January, rebels backed by Rwanda invaded and took control of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. By February 6, the UN reported that approximately 3,000 civilian lives had been lost, although current numbers remain uncertain.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and M23 now control the city. Despite ceasefire claims, fighting continues. M23, a group primarily composed of Tutsis, broke away from the Congolese Army in the 2010s and is alleged to receive support from the Rwandan government, which views them as a means to manage the Tutsi minority in Congo.
As reported, over 2,000 civilians are currently sheltering with the UN, while access to humanitarian aid is jeopardized due to the seizure of the airport. More than 150 women have reportedly been subjected to rape, torture, and murder during the takeover of Goma, with incidents of unprompted arrests and persecution also noted. The risk of disease, including monkeypox and Ebola, is heightened as bodies were left in the city for days, raising concerns over a potential epidemic, particularly with risks to water availability. Looting occurred in a UN Food Program warehouse, where food and non-food items were taken. At least a week later, electricity was restored to the city.
Residents express concerns about a potential Congolese Army offensive that could lead to further casualties. There are reports of ongoing mass killings and gang rapes in neighborhoods around Goma, and M23 exerts significant control over the city and surrounding region.
Rwanda’s involvement is suspected, with Rwanda’s president stating in a CNN interview that he is unaware of Rwandan military forces in Congo but emphasized that Rwanda would take necessary measures to ensure its protection. Rebel leaders have announced their intent to continue territorial expansion until they reach Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, over a thousand kilometers away. They stated, “We are going to fight until we get to Kinshasa. We have come to Goma to stay; we are not going to withdraw. We are going to move forward from Goma to Bukavu… up to Kinshasa.”
Attacks with firearms and machetes are occurring in rural areas. Seventeen soldiers from other nations, including South Africa, have been captured, and 14 have been killed, prompting South Africa to withdraw its forces from eastern DRC.
To address global instability, European Council President Antonio Costa announced the initiation of a dedicated EU-South Africa peace, security, and defense dialogue while reaffirming a commitment to peace efforts in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, and Congo. This initiative may help to reduce ongoing struggles in Eastern Congo, where the renewed conflict has led to the displacement of over 7 million people.
Syrian Alawite Massacre
Starting on March 8th, International Women’s Day, HTS militants launched an attack on Syria’s west coast, targeting Alawite communities and resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 people. Militants were filmed committing acts of extreme violence against unarmed civilians.
Examples of violence included forcing civilians to crawl alongside corpses, severe beatings, and executions at close range. Gender-based violence was also reported.
HTS claimed the attacks targeted pro-Assad groups; however, evidence indicates that unarmed civilians were the primary victims. Despite pledging to protect minorities, HTS, which originated from Al-Qaeda, seized power from Assad in 2024 amid mixed reactions from Western nations, with neighboring countries warning about the group’s extremist ideologies.
The President has refused to acknowledge evidence of his militants’ involvement in violence, despite social media documentation of the atrocities and mass killings, even while vowing accountability.
Minority groups, including Kurds, Alawites, and Christians, experienced significant unrest due to the violence, particularly the Alawites, given that Assad is part of this sect. The targeting of women, children, and non-combatants contributes to further instability. Thousands are seeking refuge in neighboring Lebanon, having crossed the border without resistance amid ongoing bombings. Many are also fleeing to mountainous areas.
In several cities, electricity and water supplies were cut, and killings were reported in Shia neighborhoods (as Alawites belong to a sect of Shia Islam). In Damascus, demonstrations erupted both in support of and against the mass killings, further contributing to the instability. Violence continues.
Apart from these, we have the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, and until recently, the situation in Ukraine before the ceasefire. We are facing instability in South Sudan, a cholera outbreak in Ethiopia, the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, a crisis in Lebanon, and recent attacks in Yemen. These are some of the tragedies taking place in today’s world.
Cover image by: Janvier Barhahiga for AP Photo
