The Situation in the Congo: What You Need to Know
1. Introduction
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in the midst of an ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis. Following its re-emergence in 2021, M23, a Tutsi-backed rebel group, has rapidly and recklessly gained control over numerous territories in North Kivu. The most strategically advantageous of these territories being Goma, a city bordering Rwanda, a nation accused of backing the rebel group.
​
For the past couple of years, M23 has aggressively made its way through villages and communities, killing thousands and displacing some 7.3 million people as of 2025, according to the United Nations. This persistent violence has left local civilizations severely damaged and in constant fear as their government demonstrates grave inability to regain control over regions subject to the conflict in the eastern part of the country, where its authority is devastatingly weak. The M23 has taken advantage of this and continues to thrive, with the threat of increasing strength and dominance now imminent.
​
In desperation, the Congolese government has recently resorted to utilizing brutal and abusive militias in order to combat M23. However, this resolution has only amplified human rights violations and inhumane acts between each side of the fight.
2. Historical Context
For decades, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has failed to extricate itself from political turbulence and regional tensions. Beginning in 1908, Belgium ruled and exploited the DRC’s rich resources for personal gain. Once having gained independence in 1960, the DRC was left with profound ethnic divisions, notably between the Tutsi and Hutu people. This division ultimately culminated into catastrophic events such as the Rwandan genocide. Worsening this nadir, the harsh dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko (1965-1997) executed draconian laws and fueled corruption throughout the country.
​
The Rwandan genocide (1994) remains one of the most inhumane and merciless conflicts in history. Over the short period of 100 days, Hutu extremists targeted the Tutsi minority, killing a total of 800,000 people, both adults and children. Not only did the extremists kill without remorse, but rape, torture, and mutilation became rampant, giving the genocide its notorious reputation of cruelty.
​
After the genocide, the tables turned. Around 2 million Hutus fled Rwanda to the DRC to escape the advancing Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Once settled in, the Hutu refugees formed militias, regularly clashing with Tutsi militias (usually supported by Rwanda) and the Congolese government in the east of the DRC, along the border with Rwanda.
​
These repeated regional confrontations eventually led to the first and second Congo wars. The First Congo War (1996-1997) was directly provoked by the Rwandan genocide and Uganda’s support of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko’s corrupt regime in Zaire, the name he gave the DRC. The war was put to an end when, in 1997 and with the assistance of Rwanda and Uganda, Laurent-Désiré Kabila took power, renaming the country “the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
​
The Second Congo War (1998-2003), also known as the Great War of Africa, was an outcome of the collapse of the alliance between Kabila and his former allies, Rwanda and Uganda. The two countries backed rebel groups opposing Laurent-Désiré Kabila until the conflict developed into a broader issue involving nine African nations and approximately 25 militant groups. The war ended in a peace agreement between the president and the rebel groups.
​
The situation from 2021-present is not the first appearance of M23. M23 is primarily composed of fighters from a past rebel group called the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). The CNDP and the Congolese government had made a peace deal on March 23, 2009 (hence the name M23), guaranteeing that CNDP members be integrated into the national army. However, the government did not sufficiently abide by the terms of the deal. Consequently, in 2012, M23 initiated an offensive targeting the Congolese government. Similar to what is currently going on, M23 quickly advanced through North Kivu, seizing Goma for the first time.
​
The international community and the UN immediately condemned the rebel paramilitary group’s endeavors and intervened soon after the capturing of Goma. The efforts of the The UN Force Intervention Brigade combined with those of the Congolese army finally defeated M23, which resulted in the reacquisition of the crucial city, Goma.
3. Key Issues Contributing to the Crisis
Lack of Governance and Security in the East
​
As previously mentioned, the Congolese government’s presence in the east of the country has been virtually non-existent, especially for the past few years. Due to a weak national military and inadequate infrastructure, the Congolese government has struggled to protect local districts, implement law, and maintain civil cooperation. The nation’s incompetence creates a clear path for emergence and dominance of unsophisticated and radical associations, such as M23.
​
Regional Interference
Neighboring countries, particularly Uganda and Rwanda, have been quite active in the DRC. From funding to providing training, Rwanda has helped numerous groups countering the Congolese government and terrorizing local populations. Selfishly, these outside nations tend to only consider their own strategic and economic interests and urgently want them to be addressed, complicating and multiplying the conditions of which this conflict may be solved. The outside engagement has proven to escalate tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi as well and further stimulate violence and confrontation.
Many people of the DRC feel their sovereignty and culture being threatened by invading rebel groups. This sentiment has resonated with rebel groups such as the Wazalendo, who have decided to fight against M23. Furthermore, it has fostered the occasional formation and resurgence of more violent militias, those of which the Congolese government has also begun joining forces with.
Conflict Over Resources
​
Dispute and desire for resources has long driven violence and conflict all over Central Africa. The DRC is rich in minerals like coltan, gold, and diamonds, all materials that are incredibly valuable on the global market. It is not uncommon for the Congolese government and M23 to vie for control over mining sites, both in need of the money to fund their operations. The constant competition for these rich areas only incites more violence throughout the country. This is a primary factor that exacerbated the tension and eventually led to this full-scale war.
M23 often uses locals to their advantage by enslaving them to work in harsh and inhumane conditions, only so the rebel group can profit. A great deal of criminal activity and smuggling comes from this as the local inhabitants are in desperate need of money for simple necessities such as food and housing.
4. The Human Impact
The civil war in eastern DRC has produced one of the most severe humanitarian crises the world has ever seen. Currently estimated at 7.3 million, the number of displaced civilians only grows as M23 forces families from their homes. Not every scenario of displacement comes from M23 physically forcing locals from their homes, but people also flee before M23 even arrives in their town in order to avoid the looming threat of violence. The surging displacement causes millions to relocate in displacement camps, often overcrowded, with very limited access to water, food, healthcare, and education.
​
Widespread human rights violations and atrocities have become tragically common in eastern DRC. When M23 invades smaller villages, civilians sometimes face arbitrary killings, torture, and forced labor, typically in the mining fields. Entire villages are raided and emptied, leaving the inhabitants vulnerable and without fundamental needs. Unfortunately, even the Congolese government has been accused of seriously violating human rights in forms of abuse, especially their Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). When the government reacts in unsophisticated ways, mirroring M23, it only energizes hatred, resentment, and incentivizes the rebel group to continue dehumanizing people and intensify the suffering.
​
Women and girls have been subject to arguably the most gruesome of human rights violations over the past few years. M23 has used rape and sexual violence of women and children as a method to terrorize, degrade, and humiliate communities. M23 has also been known to abduct women and force them into sexual slavery. The trauma and stigma that result from these inconceivable encounters leave negative life-long impacts on the victims and have depressing consequences, such as rejection and lack of support from their communities.
​
An unacceptable amount of children who live in these areas bound by conflict have been absorbed into the violence. For many, recruitment into the rebel groups like M23 is unavoidable and more of a consequence of circumstance than a choice – their location, ethnic identity, and family association can make them targets. The children are exposed to vicious and disturbing sights at a young age, often permanently damaging their understanding of life and leaving deep psychological scars. Most of them conceptualize life as a task shaped by fear, power, and survival.
​
Receiving education is nearly always impossible for child-soldiers as they are integrated into a troublesome environment early on, which is frequently inescapable, and will likely remain so for their futures. Moreover, the majority of schools are completely destroyed or no longer operational, with no funding for supplies and teachers with other priorities, such as saving their own lives.
5. The Role of the International Community
The situation in the DRC has quickly been recognized around the world and drew in multiple international actors. Although not solving the issue, the United States and the European Union have taken steps to undermine M23 and rebel groups alike. The Dodd-Frank Act (U.S.) and EU Conflict Minerals Regulation focus on maintaining ethical production of materials bought from their respective countries. This means that they carefully observe the means of production of minerals such as copper, cobalt, diamond, gold, and lithium in the DRC. They ensure that their companies do not buy or trade with entities linked to forced labor, child exploitation, or armed groups.
In addition, the U.S., the UN, and the EU, along with various humanitarian NGOs have provided essential humanitarian aid and worked hard to expose the vile behavior of M23. Their initiatives provide healthcare, shelter, and education. For example, USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) has been the leading donor for humanitarian and medical causes in the DRC and has been absolutely vital for struggling civilians. However, under the new United States’ administration, the funding for this program has been significantly reduced.
The U.S. and the UN have provided some military funding and training to the Congolese national forces. The U.S. has concentrated more on training, funding, and intelligence advice to the Congolese government and its national army. On the other hand, although heavily criticized for its inefficiency, the UN has engaged itself in active peacekeeping efforts through the MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and has deployed personnel to conflict-driven areas.
Unfortunately, the situation in the Congo is sometimes overlooked as much of the Western world’s recent focus has been on other global issues that affect them more directly, such as the conflict in Ukraine and that between Israel and Palestine. Consequently, international NGOs (Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Global Witness etc..) have assumed responsibility to spread transnational awareness, encourage donations, and spark concern for human rights violations. They also pursue advocacy efforts to push for further international recognition and action.
However, not all foreign involvement has been with positive intent. China’s association to the conflict in the DRC relates to its extensive operations in the country's mining sector, in areas especially rich in gold and cobalt, products used for manufacturing electronics, jewelry, and aerospace purposes. Considering its own domestic means of production, it is to no surprise that China encourages and utilizes forced labor and human rights abuses in the mines. In South Kivu, over 450 illegal mining companies are operated predominantly by Chinese nationals, many of which do not abide by Congolese mining protocol. The Chinese involvement in this region contributes to the ongoing violence and abuse for the sole function of personal and financial gain.