Officials have described the operation as logistically demanding and politically sensitive.
The evacuation comes at a time when fighting has flared in eastern DRC, especially in North Kivu, where the M23 rebel group has reasserted its presence. The city of Goma, long considered a strategic flashpoint, has seen increased instability in recent months.
Myriam Favier, who heads the ICRC’s sub-delegation in Goma, described the process as the result of weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations involving the DRC authorities, the United Nations peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, and the M23 rebels.
“This wasn’t something that happened overnight,” Favier said. “All parties had to agree on the route, the rules, and the safety protocols. We had to carefully co-ordinate every step from Goma to Lubero, then Beni, and finally on to Kinshasa.”
The personnel evacuated were primarily members of the Congolese Armed Forces and national police, most of whom had sought refuge in MONUSCO bases after being disarmed. According to Favier, the ICRC stepped in only after being formally approached by the Ministry of Defence.
“Our role is always to remain neutral and impartial,” she explained. “That’s why all parties trusted us to coordinate this operation. We weren’t acting on behalf of any side, we were simply there to ensure that those being evacuated were safe and that their rights were respected.”
Favier noted that each person evacuated was consulted individually and gave their consent to be transported.
“Many were understandably anxious,” she said. “They wanted to return to their families, to familiar places. We made sure they understood what the journey involved.”
Though the ICRC did not disclose specific accounts shared by evacuees, Favier acknowledged that some had likely endured intense combat or personal loss during the recent conflict.
“They’re human beings before anything else,” she said. “Some may have seen combat. Others might have lost relatives. We can only imagine what they’ve lived through.”
The journey itself was fraught with challenges. Convoys travelled long distances on roads made treacherous by rain, with no scheduled stops in order to maintain security.
“We had everything from flat tyres to dangerous road conditions,” Favier said. “At times, there were no opportunities to stop, not even for basic needs. But we had ICRC teams stationed at each major point along the way to ensure everything went as planned.”
Upon arrival in Kinshasa, the group was handed over to DRC authorities. Favier said that what happens next is now up to the state.
“The ICRC’s role was limited to the humanitarian aspect of the transfer,” she said. “The government will decide on the next steps, whether that involves rest, reintegration, or redeployment. That will depend on each individual’s situation and choice.”
--ChannelAfrica--
