### Eastern DRC: a humanitarian crisis in the shadow of armed conflict
Since the beginning of 2025, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been the scene of an unprecedented escalation of violence that has had severe repercussions on the lives of millions of people. Recent statements by United Nations agencies reveal an alarming situation: more than 400,000 people have been displaced, fleeing the clashes between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebels, a rebellion perceived as an heir to the ethnic and economic struggles that have plagued the region for decades. This crisis, which is emerging as yet another tragic episode in a conflict with serious consequences, deserves special attention not only for its humanitarian dimension but also for the analysis of the systemic causes at its origin.
#### An unprecedented population movement
The number of displaced people has almost doubled in one week, a figure that reflects a worrying dynamic. While the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had recorded 230,000 displaced people, recent events, particularly the intense fighting in the provinces of South and North Kivu, have caused this figure to explode. But far from being just a statistic, this population movement reveals the collective trauma of a society that is already deeply affected. The psyche of the Congolese, whose memories of the civil war of the 1990s and the Rwandan genocide persist, is an essential component to take into account in assessing the consequences of these new conflicts.
The massive movement towards Goma, a city that is almost surrounded, also illustrates a problem of accessibility to resources: the fighting disrupts not only the daily lives of the populations, but also humanitarian logistics. Goma, which is already under considerable demographic and infrastructural pressure, is therefore facing saturation of its basic services. Hospitals, already overloaded, are receiving the wounded in often precarious conditions, and essential services such as water, food and sanitation are becoming inaccessible for new arrivals and host populations alike.
#### The M23 rebellion: history and geopolitical issues
The M23, which resurfaced in 2021, is often seen as a product of inter-ethnic tensions exacerbated by disputes over control of natural resources. Its alleged support by Rwanda – a regional ally with ambitions sometimes considered expansionist – raises a complex geopolitical question: how can a localized rebellion have such vast implications for the stability of the Great Lakes region? We must see this mass of displaced people not only as an immediate consequence of the conflict, but also as a symptom of historical tensions whose roots lie deep in regional rivalries and economic interests.
War economy, resource plundering, ethnic and political rivalries: Eastern DRC is a mosaic of intertwined conflicts. The wealth of Congolese soil, in minerals such as coltan, of which the DRC holds considerable reserves, is both a curse and a tragic perversion that perpetuates violence. A globalized analysis of the production and trade of natural resources highlights the interactions between the global economy and local conflicts, where capitalist interests often play a catalytic role.
#### Human rights violations: a bitter observation
United Nations agencies have reported an intensification of human rights violations, ranging from killings to kidnappings, often disguised as security operations. These violations, which particularly affect the most vulnerable populations, such as women, children, and the elderly, show the lack of effective protection of fundamental rights, often compromised by armed forces that are too often weak or corrupt. The deterioration of the human rights situation, combined with the humanitarian crisis, paints a bleak picture where state and non-state actors escape accountability, exacerbating the suffering of civilians held hostage in a conflict of which they are often the innocent victims.
#### Towards a sustainable solution: the need for inclusive dialogue
To envisage a way out of this crisis, it is imperative to intensify diplomatic efforts and promote inclusive dialogues that take into account all stakeholders – including marginalized groups. This could involve establishing a regional dialogue, involving not only the DRC and Rwanda, but also other countries in the region, to address the origins of these conflicts and the underlying tensions.
The path to resolving this crisis must also focus on protecting human rights, providing humanitarian assistance, and rebuilding social ties within hard-hit communities. Peace efforts must articulate a foundation on which to build to enable the Congolese to claim a future where they are not only witnesses to violence, but actors in their own destiny..
### Conclusion
The situation in Eastern DRC is a desperate call to the international community to engage beyond mere words of solidarity. It is imperative that policy makers, NGOs, and civil society actors join forces to offer hope for peace and prosperity to those suffering in the shadow of armed conflict. As Goma, the ‘exile capital’, finds itself in an unsustainable situation, it is everyone’s duty to transform this tragedy into an opportunity for reflection and community action, where each displaced person can regain their dignity and their place within a nation that aspires to peace.