As humanitarian conflict like genocide, ethnic cleansing and political corruption are being reported and documented more and more online, masses of people are being made aware of what’s happening both nationally and internationally. Even though necessary attention is being brought to numerous different crises around the world like the genocide in Palestine and the tech-led environmental crisis, many are wholefully unaware and uninformed about many others that need attention and contribution. Specifically, the genocide in Congo.
Congo, located in Central Africa, has continued to experience humanitarian crises since the late 19th century and early 20th century since the sovereignty of King Leopold II over the free land. Such cruel power worked to strip Congo of natural resources like ivory and rubber, massacring and brutalizing the people of the land in the process. In the early to mid ‘90s, a genocide occured in Rwanda following the civil war against the Tutsi people, an ethnic identity first assigned to the people of Rwanda by Belgian forces. As the genocide ended in July 1994, Rwandand refugees as well as violent milita fled to Congo, which destabilized the region and caused conflict amongst the groups and communities, according to the Panzi Foundation.
The 1996 war in Congo led to mass civilian displacement and death, mostly caused by malnutrition and disease. Armed groups continue to control Eastern Congo, especially in resource-rich areas. This worsened with the intense demand of resources to support the rise of mobile phones throughout the early 21st century, as Congo is rich in the resources, specifically cobalt, which is used to create cell-phone batteries. Armed and violent rebels often control these mines and the Congolese people work in them for little to nothing each day, in extremely dangerous and inhumane conditions, handling extremely toxic cobalt. An NPR article describes controlled mining as “modern-day slavery,” which is wholefully the truth.
Released in 2010 was the nearly 600 page mapping report done by the United Nations (UN) on the extreme violations of human rights in Congo during the first and second Congo wars (1993-2003). More recently, in 2021 the M23 armed group resurged from their defeat in 2013, displacing over one million civilians and resulting in mass killing, rape and food/agricultural insecurity. Many of the armed groups, like M23, are supplied and supported by military groups, leading to rapidly spreading violence.
In 2025, the United Nations urges people to not lose hope in relief for Congo, specifically eastern Congo (North Kivu, South Kivu, Goma…) where armed groups are most active. However, funding cuts prevents assistance from reaching survivors in Congo, especially survivors of sexual violence. This raises even more concern for the most vulnerable–the women and children of Congo. UNICEF reports alarming levels of increasing sexual violence against women and young girls, 37% in North Kivu alone. The Panzi Foundation claims a 300% increase in gender based violence (GBV) in recent years. With intense humanitarian crises such as what’s happening right now in Congo and in many other places of the world, women and children are often targeted with disproportionate violence and cruelty.
When learning about active crises like genocide, especially when you’re watching or reading and separated by oceans, countries and screens, wondering what can be done to contribute from where you are can be difficult. But, where and who you are does not have to stop you from helping. Sites like Friends of the Congo, found by a simple, “What can I do to help with Congo?” Google search lists resources and actions that can be done to aid. The first action says to contact your lawmakers, which in retrospect focuses the need for action to those who are more capable and responsible to do so, rather than a student, or an average civilian. Contacting representatives and donating does not have to be the sole solution, especially if you’re generally unable to. Instead, remaining updated and aware while spreading awareness about the crises is also beneficial.
