The Displacement of DRC Citizens Increases After Attacks

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has faced a long standing conflict that led to the displacement of millions of people. On October 30, 2023, the UN International Organization of Migration (IOM) reported that the number of people who have been displaced has risen to 6.9 million. The consequences of the long standing conflict in the DRC has led to the continued insecurity of basic needs, such as housing and nutrition.

The conflict in the DRC traces back to the 1990s when the country faced two civil wars. After the Rwandan genocide, several rebel groups infiltrated the DRC. Since then, the DRC has continued to face insurgency perpetuated by these rebel groups. The tension between the DRC and Rwanda arises from both countries blaming each other for supporting opposing ethnic parties in the Rwandan war.

In 2023, a surge in attacks on civilians by non-state armed groups displaced almost 1 million people. These recent attacks bring the overall number of displaced people up to over 6 million, a 17 percent increase from the previous year. As the conflict intensifies, citizens are facing the lack of food and other critical needs.Over 26 million people in the country need humanitarian aid.

In order to end this crisis, the underlying causes must be addressed. In addition to ethnic intolerance and insurgency, the country faces political uncertainty and lack of inclusivity in government. The overall grievance of DRC peripheries have been largely ignored by the government. Regional conflicts between armed groups in neighboring countries and a humanitarian crisis also contribute to this displacement. The number of people that are killed and are lacking basic needs are only increasing. The support of government leaders and international leaders are needed to reverse these trends and create security for DRC citizens.

Image Credits: IOM 2023 | Edited by GorStra Team