Introduction

The Democratic Republic of Congo, a giant French-speaking country in Central Africa rich in natural resources, is constantly facing the invasion of various armed groups, both local and foreign, that proliferate daily in the eastern part of the country. Do these militias genuinely defend a threatened minority, or are they motivated by economic interests? What is the impact on human rights, democracy, and the dignity of the Congolese people? Curiously, all these armed groups find refuge in the country’s East, where the mineral deposits are among the most productive on the continent.

For the past two decades, eastern Congo has become the arena for the bloodiest guerrilla warfare. The number of victims is so high that it is difficult to quantify, with estimates ranging from 3 to 10 million deaths, making this conflict one of the deadliest since World War II. In addition, thousands of women have been raped and refugees scattered across neighboring countries, living in precarious humanitarian conditions, where their rights and dignity are violently violated. Despite the efforts of the international community and numerous condemnations, actions to end these armed conflicts have struggled to change the situation. Who are the key actors in the war in eastern Congo? Who is benefiting from it? What mechanisms can enable a return to peace?

The Genesis of an Endless Conflict

Slavery and colonization, first by Belgian King Leopold II, and later by the Kingdom of Belgium, led to atrocious violence: abductions, large-scale massacres, mutilations, extraction, and pillaging of natural resources, among other violations. The colonial power also employed the “divide and rule” strategy, exacerbating deep-seated divides between certain communities and ethnic groups. These tensions persisted after independence from Belgium in 1960.

In 1994, the Rwandan genocide resulted in 800,000 victims, perpetrated by Hutu pro-government militias targeting the Tutsi minority and anyone trying to protect them. Tutsi rebels ended these 100 days of massacres by marching on Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. This intervention caused millions of Rwandans, including the militias and security forces responsible for the genocide, to flee into the Democratic Republic of Congo (then called Zaire). Shortly afterward, the new Tutsi-led government in Kigali allied with the armies of Uganda and Burundi, as well as with Congolese armed groups, to invade the DRC and overthrow the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko.

The wars that followed are known as the First and Second Congo Wars (1996-1997 and 1998-2002). Some of the ongoing armed conflicts in eastern DRC are a continuation of these wars. Many armed groups emerged from this chaos, maintaining ever-changing alliances and rivalries with the political powers and state authorities involved in the conflict. These confrontations have been marked by a series of international law violations and other human rights violations, including massacres, forced disappearances, rapes, sexual violence, and acts of torture.

Minerals: A Blessing That Has Cursed Congo?

In eastern DRC, the exploitation of mineral resources, in particular, fuels greed and creates a system where armed groups, multinational companies, and traffickers intermingle. Recently, the M23 has seized several key points in South Kivu, such as the mining town of Nyabibwe and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.

South Kivu is rich in valuable minerals, such as gold, cassiterite (tin ore), coltan (essential for the electronics industry), and wolframite (used in aeronautics). These resources, crucial to the global economy, are mined both artisanal and industrial, often in illegal frameworks that foster trafficking and corruption.

The minerals extracted are sent to neighboring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi before being exported to international markets. This informal trade deprives the Congolese state of significant revenue and fuels an opaque network of funding for armed groups. In 2024, according to a UN report, rebels exported 150 tons of coltan, a material essential for the production of electronic devices, to Rwanda.

A 2020 UN report also condemned the role of certain economic and political networks in the illegal exploitation of Congolese minerals, highlighting the responsibility of international companies that continue to buy minerals without verifying their origin.

How to Establish Peace and Security in Eastern Congo?

To establish peace and security in eastern Congo, several avenues need to be explored:

• Strengthening the capacity of the Congolese state: The state must regain its authority in the east by strengthening its security and governance institutions while actively fighting corruption. This also involves ensuring access to basic services and reinforcing infrastructure to ensure long-term stability.
• Withdrawal of foreign troops: The withdrawal of foreign troops, particularly those from Rwanda, often cited by the UN as the main supporter of the M23, which currently controls several territories in eastern DRC, is crucial for restoring the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo over its territory. These foreign forces, involved in military operations and supporting certain armed groups, exacerbate the situation and contribute to regional instability. The withdrawal of these troops should be supervised by international mechanisms, such as the United Nations, to ensure that it is carried out in an orderly and controlled manner, without compromising the safety of local populations.
• Dismantling armed groups: Mechanisms for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants must be strengthened. Armed groups operating in eastern Congo, whether local or foreign, must be disarmed. Direct dialogue with militias is essential for achieving lasting peace. By establishing inclusive talks with the different armed groups, including rebels and local militias, it is possible to find peaceful solutions to their grievances and encourage their integration into a peace process.
• Protection of human rights: Continuous efforts must be made to protect the civilian population, particularly women and children, who are victims of sexual violence and conflict. International justice must be brought in to punish those responsible for human rights violations. Programs of reconciliation and reparations for victims should also be considered to help overcome trauma.
• Transparent management of natural resources: It is crucial to implement a traceability system for minerals, ensuring that natural resources genuinely benefit the Congolese population and not armed groups or criminal networks. Congo must be able to exploit its resources legally and transparently, with international oversight to prevent funding wars through the illegal exploitation of minerals.
• Inclusive dialogue and reconciliation: A process of political dialogue and national reconciliation is necessary to heal the ethnic and social divisions exacerbated by decades of conflict. The participation of all communities, including marginalized groups, in defining the country’s political and economic future is essential. Reconciliation between different communities, notably Tutsis, Hutus, and other ethnic groups, must be a central objective to ensure lasting peace.

Conclusion

The situation in Eastern DRC is a complex and tragic web of historical injustices, economic exploitation, and armed conflict. The region’s immense mineral wealth, while a potential boon for the country, has instead fueled the ongoing violence, with local and foreign armed groups using it as a primary source of funding. Human rights violations, including mass killings, sexual violence, and displacement, continue to devastate the population, while international efforts to bring about lasting peace have been ineffective in fully addressing the root causes of the conflict.

However, the path to peace is not impossible. It requires a holistic approach that combines strengthening the Congolese state, ensuring the withdrawal of foreign troops, engaging in direct dialogue with militias, and enforcing international accountability for human rights violations. A transparent and fair management of natural resources is also key to reducing the economic incentives behind much of the conflict. Above all, lasting peace in Eastern DRC will require an inclusive political dialogue that brings together all communities and respects the sovereignty of the country.

Ultimately, the restoration of peace in Eastern Congo depends on the commitment of both the Congolese government and the international community to tackle these issues head-on. If these efforts are pursued with dedication and genuine cooperation, there is hope for a peaceful and prosperous future in the region, free from the devastating grip of armed conflict.