We are all hearing about the problems in the world, but are we really? In the deep depths of the African continent, a troublesome tragedy of insane division unfolds. The genocide in Congo, a crisis often overshadowed by global headlines. In this article, we will explore the beginnings and effects of this whole situation and take a deep dive into this issue.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, a place full of natural resources like cobalt and copper and home to 6,158,037 million people (“Congo Population (2023).” Though it is very wealthy in resources and has a pretty large population, over 15 million lives have been lost due to a silent genocide of the militant group, M23.
M23, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, started in late March 2012 with an estimated number of 300 soldiers at the time. This group was created because of the date of the peace treaty that integrated Ntaganda’s armed group (the National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP) into the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The FARDC is responsible for defending congo. the M23 says that the Congolese government has not held up its side of the agreement, and they say they are rebelling due to the fact of the “obvious failure of the integration of elements of political-military movements into the Congolese armed forces.”
According to the United Nations, over 521,000 thousand people had to leave their homes and 7,000 refugees due to the overt warfare of M23. Most of these people fled to Uganda, a neighboring country, and Nyiragongo Territory (233,000), more than 97% of whom live in churches, schools, stadiums and improvised sites, while others are accommodated by host families.
M23 has killed over 15 million people. What’s going on in Congo stands as a dark chapter in human history, widespread suffering, and unspeakable atrocities. The international community should remain vigilant and committed to addressing the root cause of conflict in the region.
Works Cited
“DR Congo: Atrocities by Rwanda-Backed M23 Rebels.” Human Rights Watch, 6 February 2023, https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/06/dr-congo-atrocities-rwanda-backed-m23-rebels. Accessed 8 November 2023.
“Free Congo: Unveiling the Ongoing Silent Genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” Medium, 6 November 2023, https://medium.com/@panafricanlifestyle/free-congo-unveiling-the-ongoing-silent-genocide-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-d4ef8e26f093. Accessed 8 November 2023.
United Nations. “’;;.’” ‘;;’ – YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/documents/files/20221220idps_factsheet_rutshuru-nyira_en.pdf. Accessed 8 November 2023.
(Zapata)