The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) crisis stems from a series of post-colonial battles from power, which began after the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Decades of conflict have been fuelled by ethnic tensions, political rivalries, corruption and fighting for control of valuable natural resources.
DRC’s current conflict has been ongoing since the 1990s, particularly in the eastern part of the country which borders South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Inter-communal violence regularly breaks out in other regions, as it has been the case recently in central, southern and western provinces of Kasaï, Tshopo, Mai-Ndombe, Kwilu and Kwango.
There are currently over a hundred active armed groups in the DRC. Many of them are local militias seeking to protect their communities after over three decades of unrest. Loyalties and rivalries between groups are constantly evolving and generally guided by ethnic identities, economic interests and political manipulation.
What are the main factors driving the conflict?
Poor governance, poor management of post-colonial nation/state building, conflict over land and other natural resources are some of the factors driving the conflict. There are also deep divisions between ethnic groups which are largely the product of the region’s colonial history and historical grievances from almost five decades of nearly continuous unrest.
Colonial legacy
The colonial legacy continues to affect ethnic tensions in the DRC. Like many African countries, its borders were drawn by European colonial powers, grouping diverse ethnic groups with little regard for historical rivalries. The colonial practice of divide and rule exacerbated these tensions as colonial authorities sought to maintain control over subjugated local populations.
Natural resources
The DRC is rich in natural resources, including coltan, gold, diamonds and cobalt. The exploitation of these minerals is a significant driver of prolonged conflicts between groups. Some armed groups are financed by their control over of these resources.
Weak governance
In 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko seized power in the Congo, that he later renamed Zaire, and went on to rule for another 32 years. His regime was marked by weak governance and high levels of corruption. After the Mobutu regime was overthrown in 1997, armed groups thrived amid local and regional struggles for influence as well as state’s failure to provide essential services and security to the population. The lack of economic opportunities and development pushed many people to join armed groups, further destabilizing the country.
Foreign intervention
Neighbouring countries, particularly Rwanda and Uganda, have played pivotal roles in the DRC’s conflicts – either backing armed groups or intervening militarily for political, economic, or security reasons. The aftermath of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda against the minority Tutsi, moderate Hutus and members of a third ethnic group, the Twa, had a particularly devastating impact on eastern DRC, contributing to two major conflicts. These were often referred to as the First Congo War (1996–1997) and the Second Congo War (1998–2003). Sometimes called “Africa’s World War”, these conflicts involved numerous African nations and armed groups fighting on Congolese soil.
No effective route to justice
Impunity for human rights abuses and violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, has plagued the region. Perpetrators are rarely held to account. Victims are often denied the justice that is needed to break the vicious cycle of violence that has tormented the people of the DRC.
What is the historical context behind the conflict?
The DRC and its neighbouring countries across the African Great Lakes region share a long history of brutal violence, exploitation and suffering that dates back to the 16th century.
Slavery and colonization, first under the Belgian King Leopold II and then under the Kingdom of Belgium, was characterized by barbaric violence, including mass abductions and murder, mutilations, extraction and plundering of natural resources and other violations. The colonial power also practised ‘divide and conquer’ tactics, which exacerbated deeply entrenched rifts between communities and ethnic groups. These tensions persisted after even after independence from Belgium in 1960.
In 1994, 800,000 people were slaughtered during the genocide in Rwanda. The genocide was carried out by Hutu-led pro-government militia who targeted members of the Tutsi minority community and anyone who tried to protect them. A Tutsi-led rebellion ended 100 days of massacres by marching on Rwanda’s capital Kigali and pushing millions of Rwandans, including the militia and security forces that committed the genocide to cross the border and seek refuge in DRC, then called Zaire. Soon after, the new Tutsi-led government in Kigali joined forces with the armies of Uganda and Burundi, as well as Congolese armed groups, to invade the DRC and overthrow the Mobutu government.
The wars that followed are known as the First and Second Congo Wars (1996-1997 and 1998-2002). Some of the ongoing major armed conflicts in eastern DRC are a continuation of these wars. Numerous armed groups, arose out of this turmoil. Each of them with constantly evolving alliances and rivalries with the various political powers and state authorities party to the conflict. These interwoven conflicts were marked by a swath of crimes under international law and other human rights violations, including mass killings, enforced disappearances, rapes and other sexual violence, and torture.
How is the conflict impacting Congolese people?
The conflicts in the DRC have ignited a human rights catastrophe. Thousands of civilians are caught in the crossfire and sexual violence is rampant. War crimes and crimes against humanity have been documented. Those who survive the violence face mass displacement, hunger, disease and poverty.
- Mass killings and injuries through attacks targeted at civilians and indiscriminate attacks
- Mass rapes and other sexual violence
- Torture, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions
- Mass displacement and lack of access to food and shelter
- Poverty and lack of access to healthcare and education
Mass killings and injuries
Fighting between armed forces in the DRC is often characterized by targeted or indiscriminate attacks that result in mass killings and injuries. More than 6 million people have died as a result of conflict in the DRC since 1998, many of them killed by hunger and disease.
Today, civilians are being killed in intensified fighting across North Kivu province. Casualties include those living in sites for internally displaced persons, which are regularly the targets of bombings.
Mass rapes and other sexual violence
UN and NGO sources have reported mass rapes and sexual violence in the DRC, mainly against women and children. Some of the victims of these attacks are as young as nine years old. Sexual violence is endemic in the DRC with studies finding that over 1.5 million women in the country have been raped in their lifetime.
Experts, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukegwe, describe rampant sexual violence in the DRC as a clear example of rape used as a weapon of war.
Torture, enforced disappearances and mass arbitrary detentions
Thousands of people have been subjected to torture and other cruel treatment as a result of the fighting in DRC. In 2022, a UN report found that both state authorities and non-state armed groups subjected people to torture.
There are also cases of enforced disappearances or arbitrarily detentions, among other abuses.
Mass displacement and lack of access to food and shelter
Fighting in the DRC has fuelled a humanitarian disaster, with millions forced to flee their home in search of safety. As of April 2024, 7.3 million people have been internally displaced by conflict, making it one of the largest displacement crises in the world.
People living in the areas most impacted by the conflict, including internally displaced people, are isolated from supply routes. This, paired with poor access to healthcare, food and shelter as well as substantial overcrowding and a lack of resources for aid, presents a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Poverty and lack of access to healthcare and education
Despite the presence of valuable resources like cobalt and copper, the DRC is among the five poorest nations in the world. It’s estimated that 74.6 per cent of the country lives on less than US$2.15 per day in 2023.
The lack of economic opportunities is a barrier preventing people’s access to their human rights to healthcare, food and education. It also fuels armed conflicts and intercommunal violence.
What needs to happen to end the fighting in the DRC?
- Truth, justice and reparations for victims of the conflicts
- Humanitarian assistance
- Empower civil society in DRC
Justice and accountability are essential to breaking this cycle of violence. Perpetrators of crimes under international law and other atrocities should be investigated, prosecuted and punished before the courts, whether national or international. Survivors and victims have a right to get justice for what they suffered.
In addition to better access to justice, states must also address historical grievances and ensure they provide and facilitate truth and reparations. Acknowledging the pain of the 6 million victims of DRC’s conflicts and making sure the world hears their stories will serve as a reminder of the true cost of war.