(Photo by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid via Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
For a long time, militia activity fluctuated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of minerals and ethnic hostilities. It has now erupted in a way that has hurt civilian lives and destabilised the country and region. The country has experienced many different actors invested in its people, precious minerals, and power. This conflict has worsened poor conditions for civilians in the country, with many civilian deaths and refugees among the numbers of the battle ongoing.
The main actors in the country are the DRC’s government and its military, the M-23 militia, and its main ally, the Rwandan government. The Union for Democracy and Social Progress governs the DRC, led by Felix Tshisekedi as the country’s president. He has been in power since 2019, with the most recent election in January of 2024 disputed by opposition parties.
The M-23 militia mainly comprises Tutsi forces in the eastern DRC, home to many minerals used in electronics and borders Rwanda. Colonization in Africa shaped the DRC and Rwanda, which borders the independence of these countries. They share the same ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, and Tua. The complexity has made the conflict in the DRC contentious as the DRC government will not negotiate with the M-23 militia as it sees Rwanda behind the conflict because it supports the militia.
Amid this conflict, many civilians have fled battle areas and lost their homes, livelihoods, and health due to the combat. With both sides accused of crimes against the civilian population, the current situation is indefensible. With the M-23 militia aiming to take DRC’s capital eventually, many people have fled from cities once considered safe. The militia backed by Rwanda has brought international attention, as international actors do not want this conflict to escalate to a regional war.
M-23
M-23, which stands for March 23, is a militia that began due to the militant’s issues with their integration within the DRC military. The March 23, 2009, treaty came from the 2009 peace agreement that aimed to integrate Tutsi militant groups into civil society as part of the military and as a political party. Using the date of the last major treaty between the DRC government and the leading Tutsi militia as their name, the current leader, Sultana Makenga, is advancing their control of the valuable wealth in Eastern Congo. The instability in Eastern Congo comes from years of militant conflict for control of mineral wealth, and fears of ethnic violence have increased support for militias like M-23.
While the conflict escalated late in 2024, with the M-23 taking cities in eastern DRC, the country had already experienced one uprising in the early 2010s. The militia captured the biggest city in Eastern DRC, a situation similar to threatening the rest of the country due to a lack of coherent defence by the DRC government. Once neighbouring countries and the UN peacekeeping forces in the country pushed them out, most of the militants eventually fled to Rwanda. Since then, they have been out of the spotlight of instability in the country. With government backing being a key factor for when these militias can threaten the status quo, the Rwandan backing of M-23 has been a significant factor in the current conflict.
The main reason there have been few significant victories against the militia has been the failure of the government military to defend against them. A switch at the head of the army in December 2024 shows the government’s lack of success in 2024. Much of this comes from a lack of preparation to take on new responsibilities and accountability in the military. At the same time, the UN peacekeeping force expected to leave the DRC’s protection missions in 2024.
The support of Rwanda has been key to the success of the M-23 militia taking control of regions of eastern DRC. With reports of thousands of troops from Rwanda assisting the militia, the M-23 has been used to surprise and overwhelm the military of the DRC and peacekeeping forces prepared for combatting smaller militias and not military personnel. With Rwandan troops involved, it may mean more countries send military to assist the DRC military. This influx of Rwandan forces could lead to an escalation in conflict, as seen previously in the country during the last two Congo wars.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
This conflict has created severe conditions for civilians in the country, with many having to flee battle-torn towns and cities. So far, 7,000 people have been reported dead from the conflict, with likely many more not counted. The lack of stability and safety amongst the different nations in Eastern Africa has forced many people to flee their homes, whether internally displaced or to another country.
As such, this movement of people has meant more people dependent on hosting nations’ international support and hospitality. The region has few opportunities for shelter and safety. This issue of internal displacement means any ceasefire or truce needs the right of return for refugees to their homes if possible; otherwise, the conflict keeps people stuck in the limbo of survival.
With deteriorating security, many Congolese have fled to Angola and Burundi. The two countries welcomed the refugees, albeit with limited resources available to provide for them. With the US ending many foreign aid programs and Europe focusing on Ukraine, much of the aid will be from neighboring countries. Refugees often end up in camps for extended lengths of time due to the lack of safety when returning home. This increased conflict can destabilize a person’s life as their opportunities decrease, and they must live in camps or secure areas provided by peacekeeping forces.
Both sides have made limited cases for accountability; the instability limits the current outside reporting in the country. Lack of stable aid means that the longer the conflict, the more people are hurt out in the open. This lack of assistance is important as attacks on civilians can have lifelong impacts that aid would benefit them. Primary forces of pressure towards a ceasefire come from nearby states and the UN as they understand the humanitarian crisis occurring in the country. There are no easy answers or permanent solutions for civilians due to the fluidity of the region’s safety and stability.
Consequences and Outcomes
International actors were critical in bringing about the initial treaty in March of 2009, with Angola as host and “Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo” as mediator—concessions involved reintroducing the prominent former Tutsi militia members into civil society and as a political party. Breakdowns in security guarantees and direct support from Rwanda have meant that militias like M-23 have made significant captures in the DRC.
In addition, international corporations that use minerals from the DRC must be pressured, as using minerals from rebel militias can fund further conflict. The next diplomatic step is international pressure through sanctions and accountability on the actors involved. The conflict will worsen civilian conditions and international relations if such steps are not taken to resolve the conflict’s sources.
Militants assault civilians during the conflict, and those who flee often lack supplies or resources to escape areas of conflict. With this in mind, in any situation where the conflict ceases to be active, efforts must be centered around rebuilding civilian livelihoods. In addition, peacekeeping forces will be necessary to protect civilians.
Edited by Gustavo Villela
