As a young Sudanese researcher in public health, I will strive to shed light on the challenges faced by the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through this essay. By conducting thorough research of online articles and literature reviews, enriched by personal testimonies of refugees from DRC, I intend to provide insight into the ongoing conflict, displacement, and health challenges in the region.
M23 rebels stormed Goma - Reuters
DR Congo’s History of Conflicts:
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced a long-standing history of conflict, arising from an intricate mix of political, ethnic, and economic tensions. Over the course of many years, the conflict has developed into a fierce competition for dominance over the country's abundant mineral resources, such as gold, diamonds, and coltan.
The conflict's origins can be traced back to the colonial era, with further complications arising from the Rwandan genocide in 1994, which has tragically led to an influx of refugees and armed groups into eastern DRC, further exacerbating the situation, setting off what eventually came to be known as "Africa's World War." This included the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement (M23), which periodically claims to defend minority Tutsi populations, but in reality is widely recognized to be involved in a broader agenda concerning control over trade routes and mining areas in North Kivu and Ituri.
In response, the Congolese government has pursued earthy military offensives riddled with corruption, fragmentation, and weak coordination.
Although there are UN missions and many peace agreements in the DRC, true sovereignty over its resources remains unachievable through this entrenched informal system of exploitation. The wars of Congo are, in fact, wars of extraction, rather than identity or territory, about who gets to extract and who gains from the chaos. This has led to a surge of protracted violence, forced displacement, and numerous human rights violations, leaving countless civilians trapped in the midst of it all.
Conflict and Displacement
Towards the end of January of 2025, the violent clashes between the M23 armed group and the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies in the eastern DRC’s North Kivu province escalated to its highest point following two years of sustained conflict (Massive humanitarian response needed to avoid health catastrophe in DRC | MSF).
This prolonged conflict has now spilled over into the neighbouring countries to South Kivu province, triggering a wave of displaced individuals fleeing their residences. According to UNHCR (UNHCR Democratic Republic of the Congo situation | Global Focus (unhcr.org)), the conflict in Congo is one of the “most complex humanitarian crises in the world” where 6.1 million people are displaced within the country, and another 1 million have been forced to seek asylum across Africa.
This turmoil has birthed mass displacement, where families are torn apart, forced to abandon not only their homes, leaving behind cherished belongings, invaluable possessions, and the essence of their entire lives.
Civilians who fled fighting between armed groups and the army in North Kivu. Source: DW
The Daunting Journey of Fleeing Congo
A multitude of challenges await those fleeing the conflict zones in DRC, making their journey to safety a daunting and uncertain path. In a daunting journey filled with danger and uncertainty, refugees are forced to confront armed groups, bandits, and numerous checkpoints. These constant threats increase their exhaustion and vulnerability, making their already difficult situation even more complex.
The escaping journey is terribly scary and often filled with severe forms of torture, as described by G, who prefers to remain anonymous: “I am referring to the testimony of my friend who was faced with rebels only a kilometer away from them. “They can slit your throat alive without mercy. Every day we live in fear. We don't know when our turn will be. God have pity on us!”
In addition, the emotional impact of fleeing from conflict is traumatizing, as people and families struggle with the distress of leaving behind their homes, jobs, often experiencing the loss of their dear ones. To make matters worse, they find themselves in frequently overcrowded refugee camps or host communities, unsure of what lies ahead.
Adela Baleke, a 28-year-old mother, reports to People in Need, which is an NGO that provides humanitarian assistance and development aid to regions affected by conflicts and natural disasters “We fled the clashes in the highlands of Bijombo. I walked for four days with my five children. We spent the nights in the bush, my house was burned, and my livestock was taken away by the rebels while I was fleeing. My husband was captured and to this day, he still hasn’t returned to us!”
Displaced people in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Goma, North Kivu province. Photo: Zanem Nety Zaidi/Xinhua
Public Health Catastrophes in DRC
Amidst the conflict in the DRC, a growing health catastrophe has become a major cause for concern particularly with a resurge of Cholera. In this environment, a grim combination of violence, displacement, and inadequate healthcare access has paved the way for the rapid transmission of infectious diseases. The breakdown of infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, coupled with overcrowded living conditions in makeshift settlements for displaced populations, creates an environment conducive to the rapid transmission of disease.
A recent assessment by the NGO Médécins Sans Frontières reveals a dire situation in conflict-affected areas in DRC, where healthcare facilities, medical supplies, and trained personnel are in critically short supply. In numerous communities, the lack of resources has resulted in essential healthcare services being inaccessible. This has worsened existing health problems and heightened the likelihood of preventable diseases.
“A view of a refugee camp in Goma, where thousands of people have been displaced due to ongoing fighting in North Kivu.” Photo Credit: Marion Molinari /MSF
Moreover, this critical situation has also given rise to malnutrition and posed significant risks to the health of both mothers and children. According to the World Food Program, a devastating number of approximately 26.4 million individuals are currently facing food insecurity.
This predicament is primarily caused by the far-reaching impact of conflict, widespread displacement, and a significant decrease in agricultural output which led to an estimated children under 5 and pregnant and lactating mothers suffering from severe consequences of malnutrition.
Adela Baleke, a 28-year-old mother, shares her harrowing tale of suffering from malnutrition alongside her children with People in Need: “My children and I live in a host family here in the health area of Katala. Finding food is very difficult. Only our children are able to eat once a day, and adults have to manage not eating somehow. Because of this situation, my children have begun to lose a lot of weight and the skin and hair of my 1-year-old baby has begun to change color. After the screening by the sensitizers of People In Need, I was told that my child was suffering from malnutrition”.
Children are confronted with severe consequences that often extend far beyond malnutrition. According to recent reports from Save the Children, the closure of over 500 schools has been a devastating consequence of the violence which does not only cause physical harm, but also inflict deep emotional and psychological wounds on children, potentially hindering their overall development.
A 12-year-old child vividly recalls the harrowing experience of being caught in the midst of violence while attending school in North Kivu last year: “We played football at recess, then the bell rang, and we went into the classroom. Only a few minutes later, we saw the armed men coming out from under the eucalyptus trees. They came to our school firing bullets. I heard explosions and other loud noises. We fled, without even thinking, everyone fled into another direction.”
Congolese rallying in Auckland. Source: RNZ
Further, the UN reports that amidst the conflict, a troubling surge in cases of sexual violence has emerged, perpetrated by armed men within IDP camps, where it is the women and girls who bear the brunt of these atrocities, facing systematic targeting and enduring brutal and unspeakable acts of rape, assault, and exploitation. The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated, as it leaves survivors with lasting physical and psychological damage.
This was one of the causes of the outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases in the conflict area as described by G. “Alongside Cholera and measles outbreaks is the outbreak of the sexually transmitted diseases that raped women and girls suffer terribly from.”
Community Resilience in DRC
The Congolese communities are resilient, especially against the adversity of war, violence, and neglect, which, sadly, has become a way of life. In the IDP settlements and towns affected by conflict, grassroots mutual aid networks have grown. IDPs have learned how to become self-reliant. They started integrating well in their new host communities who accepted them very well, as they felt like this was their “moral obligation that is deeply rooted in ‘African solidarity’, and have started to build alliances and to actively seek ways to create new opportunities such as start new small business and engaging in informal work.
Community cohesion is at the core of how Congolese IDPs navigate their lives in displacement, TRAFIG research points to prior connections, often familial or communal ties, as influencing where people flee and how they integrate into host communities. These relations form what the researchers termed a "chain of connectivity," facilitating the access to shelter, information, and economic opportunities.
Mapendo* runs a small potato business in front of her shelter in a camp for internally displaced people near Goma, DRC. Photo: Mireille Ngwamba for the IRC
Women-led organizations like the “Dynamique des Femmes Juristes” have developed in the Kivu province, becoming very effective in merging humanitarian assistance with political advocacy by documenting human rights abuses, promoting for Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and care, and getting involved in local peace dialogues.
Religious institutions and traditional elders, who have been the age-old custodians of social cohesion, have been a catalyst in mediating community tensions and setting up shelter for the displaced. Furthermore, women have been empowered and positioned as front runners in the agricultural recovery, food security, and community rebuilding projects such as Beans for Women Empowerment (B4WE) in eastern DRC, where they are given training in leadership, economic empowerment, and decision-making.
At this point, I want to draw your attention to an exciting aspect: the unprecedented mobilization of the Congolese diaspora all over Africa, Europe, and North America. The slogans “30 days for Congo” and "Congo Is Bleeding" have converged with the digital media campaign to expose global complicity in resource plundering and give a full voice to the Congolese in their demand for structural reform. The diaspora has also worked alongside local bodied civil society to raise funds for medical supplies, support community radio stations, and develop a spirit of transnational solidarity.
It is culture and creativity that provide crucial outlets for resilience. In eastern cities like Bukavu and Goma, artists have converted trauma into testimony through street murals, spoken word performance, and documentary filmmaking. Through “Yolé! Africa” and “La Lucha”, young people are empowered to tell their stories, thus nurturing a sense of collective memory and political consciousness. Furthermore, Congolese artists such as Primo Mauridi and Mugabo Baritegera are using photography to covert trauma into political consciousness.
This showcases that Congolese communities are not operating passively in the face of war; instead, they are taking an active stance against it, replete with agency, creativity, and unyielding dignity.
How Does the Conflict in DRC Affect Regional Stability?
As outlined above, the spillover of the conflict in the DRC into neighboring countries is a grave concern for regional stability. There has been a noticeable increase in tensions and military presence in border regions with Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. This has raised concerns about the possibility of further escalation and cross-border incursions.
The increasing violence in the DRC poses a threat not only to the country's peace and security, but also to the stability of the entire Great Lakes region. As neighboring countries have to deal with their own security challenges, they are now faced with the added responsibility of handling the consequences of the intensifying conflict in DRC. This includes managing the influx of refugees and the spread of violence across borders.
Map showing the Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding countries affected by conflict. Source: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
The harrowing testimonies of individuals like Adela Baleke and the 12-year-old child vividly illustrate the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on the lives of millions of Congolese people, particularly women, children, and vulnerable communities. This should not be overlooked amidst the numerous global crises. It is crucial for the international community to focus on addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, promoting initiatives for peacebuilding and reconciliation, and safeguarding the well-being of civilians, with a particular emphasis on women and children.
