Image © “Creative Commons” by MONUSCO Photos via Flickr license BY CC 2.0.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. With 5.6 million internally displaced people (IDPs), including more than 4 million in the eastern provinces of South Kivu, North Kivu, and Ituri, and over 990,000 Congolese refugees across Africa, the situation is dire.
As members of the Habitat International Coalition (HIC), we stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of the DRC, particularly those displaced by decades of conflict. The ongoing violence in eastern Congo is yet another stark example of state failures to uphold international peace and the rule of law. Now, more than ever, the people of the DRC need global support.
Rwanda’s Role in the Crisis
The Rwandan army is recognized as exercising de facto control over M23 operations, making Rwanda directly responsible for the crimes committed against the Congolese people.
On January 26, 2025, Rwandan soldiers, the M23 militia, and allied forces attacked the city of Goma, killing and wounding thousands of civilians. The next day, Rwandan forces bombed two hospitals, targeting vulnerable patients, including women and children. M23 has also sabotaged critical infrastructure, including electricity transmission towers essential for supplying clean water to civilians.
International Involvement and Complicity
Rwanda has long served as a proxy for Western interests in the mineral-rich Great Lakes Region. The country’s military is armed by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the European Union (EU), and supported by Uganda and Israel, which supplies intelligence, spyware, and weapons. These actors have repeatedly violated international law, fueling ongoing atrocities.
As a result of these coordinated attacks, Rwanda-backed forces have displaced over seven million Congolese and forcibly expelled 400,000 people from their homes and lands in 2025 alone. Horrific war crimes continue, including the brutal machete murder of over 60 displaced Hema people in Djugu Territory, Ituri Province. These attacks mirror the atrocities of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, further underscoring the urgent need for international accountability.
A Call for Justice and Action
We express our solidarity with the tens of thousands of Congolese citizens protesting the foreign invasion of their country. These brave individuals are demanding an end to violence and the exploitation of their land by imperial powers and complicit states.
HIC stands alongside civil society groups condemning Rwanda’s violent crimes. We also endorse the Bishop of Goma’s call for all parties to respect human rights, including the right to life and adequate housing. Forced evictions in conflict zones constitute gross human rights violations, warranting reparations under international law.
We welcome the recent UN Human Rights Council resolution establishing an independent investigation into human rights violations in the DRC. However, we note that MONUSCO peacekeepers have failed in their mandate to protect civilians and call for immediate improvements.
Urgent Demands to the International Community
We call upon governments, international institutions, and humanitarian organizations to take decisive action:
- Deliver humanitarian aid to the population of Goma.
- Reverse the failed ‘state of siege’ in Ituri and North Kivu, ensuring the protection of IDPs.
- Strengthen security for vulnerable IDPs and civilian populations, while facilitating humanitarian aid in Djugu Territory.
- Expand sanctions against individuals and businesses involved in atrocities in the DRC, particularly those targeting Hema, Alur, and Banyamulenge communities.
- Ensure local authorities and public institutions cease transactions with corporations trafficking illegally extracted resources from DRC.
- Support the International Criminal Court (ICC) in prosecuting and punishing those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in DRC.
The people of the DRC have suffered far too long. The world must act now to bring justice, accountability, and lasting peace.
