The Silent Cry in the Congo

Despite the country of Congo being rich in resources like gold, coltan, and cobalt, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a huge disaster for human welfare. Despite this major disaster, it is largely ignored by the international community. The recent and ongoing conflict in the eastern regions has led to severe human rights abuses, mass displacement, and rampant exploitation of resources. How did such a wealthy nation in minerals turn into a dangerous ground for human suffering?

The roots of Congo’s suffering date back to the European colonial era and post-independence instability. In 1960, Congo gained independence from Belgium, but the subsequent power vacuum plunged the nation into chaos. Leaders like Patrice Lumumba were assassinated on January 17, 1961, and power struggles fueled the fire of violence. In 1994, the Rwandan Genocide exacerbated the crisis, with armed groups crossing into Congo and establishing strongholds in resource-rich areas like North Kivu. The genocide occurred from April 7 to July 19, 1994, over 100 days, and over 500,000 to 662,000 people were killed. Despite this massive genocide, the international community failed to intervene to stop the killings. The RPF resumed military operations in response to the genocide, eventually defeating government forces and ending the genocide by capturing all government-controlled territory. This led to the flight of the genocidaires and many Hutu refugees into Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), contributing to regional instability and triggering the First Congo War in 1996.

Photograph: Reuters

As of 2025, more than 7 million Congolese have been forced to flee their homes due to armed conflict, especially in eastern regions/provinces. Camps like Kanyaruchinya are overcrowded, with families surviving on limited aid. Children make up 60% of the displaced population, facing malnutrition and a severe lack of access to education.

The eastern regions of Congo hold some of the richest coltan reserves in the entire world—a mineral vital for smartphones and electronics. Armed groups like the M23 rebels have taken control of these mines, forcing civilians into hard labor and using profits to fund their operations. Meanwhile, international tech companies indirectly benefit from this illegal trade, perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.

Rebels like the M23 armed group have committed summary executions and forcibly recruited civilians in the eastern regions, according to Human Rights Watch. The Congolese army is responding to the M23 offensive by collaborating with ethnic militias with abusive records. The warring parties have increasingly appealed to ethnic loyalties, putting civilians in remote areas of North Kivu province at heightened risk.

The United Nations has deployed the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission, but attacks against civilians continue unabated. Recent peace talks involving the US, Rwanda, and Congo aimed to curb violence, yet the lack of concrete action leaves millions vulnerable. Western governments express concern, but meaningful intervention is hampered by complex regional politics and economic interests in Congo’s mineral resources.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s silent crisis is a haunting reminder of how wealth and suffering can coexist in the same land. While the world benefits from Congo’s minerals, millions of Congolese endure unimaginable suffering. It is time for the global community to acknowledge this crisis, hold perpetrators accountable, and invest in sustainable peace initiatives.