On the vast continent of Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is known for its rich natural resources and deep cultural heritage, but the land also bears the scars of countless conflicts and instability. Recently, the situation in Eastern Congo, especially in North Kivu province, has deteriorated sharply, and frequent offensives by the rebel "M23 movement" have put the once peaceful city of Goma into the international spotlight. Amid this humanitarian crisis, a young photographer, Marie Jeanne Munyerenkana (@mariejeanne_munyerenkana), used her lens to document the reality of the disaster with a calm but profound perspective.
Marie Jeanne Munyerenkana, a 22-year-old documentary photographer and journalist, grew up surrounded by armed conflict. This unique experience not only shaped her deep desire for peace but also inspired her determination to tell her country's story through a lens. Since 2023, she has devoted her passion to documentary photography, capturing the complex emotions of the Democratic Republic of Congo - from the brutality of war to the resilience of its people. Marie believes that photography is not only the expression of art, but also the power to reveal truth and promote understanding, and she is committed to sharing the stories of the Congo that are often ignored by the world.
As the M23 and government forces fought fierce battles in Goma, Marie's camera captured the worst of the war. At Kyeshero Hospital in Goma, makeshift tents filled with wounded people from bullet wounds or shrapnel wounds, their anguished faces mixed with bandages and plaster into a heartbreaking picture. In the hospital, the air filled with disinfectant and blood mixed breath, the medical staff busy and tense figures shuttle between, trying to bring hope to every injured person. Marie's lens shows not only the physical pain of the wounded but also their desire for peace and their uncertainty about the future.
More seriously, with the rebels in control of most of Goma, humanitarian access has been severely blocked, leaving the basic needs of 2 million people unmet. Shortages of food, water, and medical aid have left the city's residents living in extreme anxiety. Through the lens, Marie recorded the migration team with all their belongings on their backs, the small girl with a rice bowl, and the parents standing by the bed of the injured child, who silently told the cruelty of the war.
More distressingly, the war has also led to an epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence. UN Women has warned that these problems have "sadly become the norm" on the ground. Marie Jeanne's lens also shows that in the shadow of war, women and girls are among the most vulnerable, suffering untold pain and fear.
Through Marie Jeanne Munyerenkana's lens, the tragedy of Goma is not just an accumulation of numbers, but the unbearable weight behind each life. Her works, with their true, objective, and profound characteristics, have become a witness to the war in Goma. In her shots, there are no gorgeous words or excessive emotion, only the most real moments, showing the cruelty of war and the resilience of local people, awakening people to see the preciousness of peace and the responsibility of maintaining peace. Marie's work is an ode to the unyielding spirit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a profound reflection on the common destiny of mankind.
