The Congo conflict, which features the presence of a hundred different armed groups, is escalating. Among the current risks, is the possible spillover of the widespread violence from North Kivu province into the Great Lakes region. The impending withdrawal from the country of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) is also expected to exacerbate the security vacuum, heightening concerns from neighbouring countries and humanitarian organizations. 

Among the bad actors involved in the conflict, there are three standouts. The 23 March Movement (M23) has notably increased its territorial control. It has captured strategic areas in North Kivu and accounts for the majority of conflict-related incidents. Additionally, the presence of other groups like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is expanding the conflict into South Kivu and intensifying violence.

A direct consequence of the ongoing violence is statistics showing a rise in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). It rose from 5.2 million in 2022 to 6.8 million in April 2024. The first half of 2024 alone also witnessed 2,012,000 new internal displacements. 73% of the displacement has been caused by an M23 rebellion in Eastern Congo. 

Images sourced from Flickr – Maxence, MONUSCO