School children in eastern DRC wear blue skirts, white t-shirts, and pink jerseys while carrying blue "Save the Children" schoolbags. Image Credit: X @DRC_sci
(The Post News)-As the school term begins in the Democratic Republic of Congo, children in Goma, a city of over two million, face a future overshadowed by the M23 insurgents DRC. The M23 insurgents DRC control key neighborhoods, exposing failures in governance and highlighting the fragility of state authority in the eastern region.
Families, already struggling economically, now confront the harsh reality that the M23 insurgents DRC dictate whether children can attend school, making education increasingly uncertain amid conflict.
Economic Paralysis Under M23 Insurgents DRC
In Goma’s marketplaces, the political consequences of the insurgency are visible. Merchants stock shelves, but few customers arrive. Parents cannot buy uniforms, books, or stationery, highlighting how armed groups like the M23 insurgents DRC disrupt local economies and weaken civilian life. Education, a state responsibility, has become hostage to political violence.
Vendor Victoria Semego points directly to the insurgency’s impact:
“The condition is unfavorable. Ever since the M23 insurgents DRC seized control, no one has employment, and we cannot sell. In past years, around this period, I would have sold goods worth 100,000 francs, about $35. Now, I have sold only 10,000 francs. Political instability prevents families from buying notebooks, and children may miss school.”
Families Struggle Amid Rising Costs
Other merchants describe similar political pressures. Shop owner Amani Serge adds, “Buyers do not come. Children will probably wear their old uniforms, but families cannot afford new notebooks because the M23 insurgents DRC disrupt governance and markets.”
Families in both Goma and nearby Bukavu now confront soaring prices for educational supplies. Exercise books, uniforms, and school bags have become political as well as economic burdens, reflecting how the M23 insurgents DRC leverage chaos to control civilian populations.
Guardian David Fiston highlights the political dimension: “We do our best, but given the circumstances and the control of M23 insurgents DRC, we cannot always afford essential goods. The government’s absence leaves families to navigate survival amid political violence.”
Parents like Bibiche Nyota make enormous sacrifices. “I spent $50, and I had to stretch it as far as possible. I do not have enough notebooks or bags. The children might attend classes, but life is very difficult under the control of M23 insurgents DRC.” Her story highlights the political failure to provide basic rights, as armed groups dictate access to education.
Children Resist Political Chaos
Despite these hardships, children continue to dream of a better future. They arrive at school hoping to learn, even under the influence of M23 insurgents DRC. Their resilience exposes the political negligence of authorities and underscores the urgent need for accountable governance.
In Goma’s streets, markets, and classrooms, the impact of M23 insurgents DRC illustrates a political crisis. Vendors worry about sales, parents worry about fees, and children risk losing their right to learn. Yet amid this turmoil, many refuse to surrender to political chaos, demonstrating that education remains a contested space between state neglect and insurgent control
The ongoing violence directly threatens the education of thousands of children across eastern DRC. Schools cannot function when families cannot afford supplies, teachers lack salaries, and classrooms suffer under the shadow of M23 insurgents DRC occupation. Students who attend school face political and social instability, as education becomes a battleground for authority in the region.
September begins with uncertainty, but children continue to attend school when they can, determined to rise above political disruption. The city endures under the M23 insurgents DRC, yet the aspirations of its youngest residents remain alive. Education persists not just as a social good, but as a political statement: the people of Goma refuse to yield to armed control.
In the face of relentless adversity, the courage of children, families, and educators in Goma serves as a reminder that education is inseparable from political stability. As the M23 insurgents DRC continue to assert power, the resilience of the city’s youth shines as a symbol of resistance against oppression, proving that hope endures even amid conflict.
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