In brief
Just across the shores of Lake Kivu, Gisenyi in Rwanda enjoys relaxation and leisure, starkly contrasting the devastation witnessed in Goma, Congo. The ongoing conflict driven by the M23 rebel group has tragically claimed thousands of lives, revealing a chilling disparity between the two neighboring areas.
The peaceful shores of Lake Kivu tell two contrasting stories: in Rwanda's Gisenyi, life is all about fun, food, and relaxing — folks glide by on canoes while families savor sunsets. Just a stone's throw away in Goma, Congo, tragedy strikes. The aftermath of a violent M23 rebel offensive has left thousands dead and the area filled with destruction. "It’s peaceful here, unlike over there,” shares Exauce Shalako, a 20-year-old from Goma who now seeks solace across the border. While Gisenyi is a vibrant beach town, Goma, with its two million residents, has become a haunting reminder of war's brutal toll. Rwanda is accused of backing the M23 rebels, further complicating the fragile situation in the region. As local tensions rise, many like Shalako are caught between a desire for peace and the horrors just across the lake.
