On Tuesday, local authorities in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), enacted a ban on vehicles with tinted glass amid ongoing clashes between Congolese soldiers and armed rebels.
Peter Chirimwami, the military governor of the province, stated, “Due to security concerns raised by our intelligence services, vehicles equipped with tinted glass are deemed a security risk in Goma.”
Owners of vehicles with tinted glass have been given a 72-hour grace period to comply with the new regulation.
The security situation in the vicinity of Goma remains precarious, as clashes persist between the DRC military and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels, who have recently intensified attacks on military positions.
As the main roads linking Goma with its surrounding areas are blocked by the M23 rebels, the city of Goma is facing imminent economic suffocation. Meanwhile, the situation on the frontline remains extremely volatile.
Goma is managing to cope with the influx of civilians seeking refuge in displacement camps, but this surge in population poses a risk of exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
The supply of essential goods has been severely disrupted by the M23’s advances, adding to the challenges faced by the city.
Stephane Dujarric, the principal spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, announced on Monday that UN peacekeeping forces have been redeployed to assist in the defense of Goma and Sake, a town located approximately 27 km from Goma.
He emphasized that the UN peacekeeping force, known as Monusco, is deeply troubled by the escalating hostilities instigated by the M23 rebels in North Kivu Province.