Did you know that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises?
After decades of conflict, violations of human rights, and economic hardship, people living in the DRC are in desperate need of both help and hope.
Here’s a quick look at the country’s history — and how you can help transform lives today:
A Brief History
The DRC’s violent history has caused extreme poverty throughout the country today
The roots of the crisis stretch back decades. The DRC gained independence from Belgium in 1960, but the new government was overthrown by a military coup in 1965. Mobutu Sese Seko seized power, renamed the country Zaire, and ruled with an iron grip for 32 years.
He ushered in an era marked by corruption and weak governance. While Seko embezzled billions of dollars, the Congolese people suffered in chronic poverty. However, Seko’s regime ended after the Rwandan genocide.
In 1994, the Hutu militia launched a brutal campaign against the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda. Over the next 100 days, approximately 800,000 people were murdered. Once a group of Tutsi rebels overthrew the Hutu militia, over a million Rwandans, most of whom were Hutu, fled to Zaire.
In response, the new Rwandan government allied with Uganda, Burundi, and Congolese rebel groups to pursue the Hutu extremists hiding in Zaire. This resulted in the First Congo War, which led to Seko being overthrown in 1997.
Congolese rebel Laurent-Désiré Kabila rose to power and restored the country’s name to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Unfortunately, peace in the DRC was short-lived, as Kabila quickly turned on his allies. He dismissed Rwandan and Ugandan troops, removed Tutsi officials from government, and allowed Hutu armed groups to re-establish themselves in the DRC.
This triggered the Second Congo War, also known as the African World War, drawing in armies from nine African nations.
In 2001, Laurent-Désiré Kabila was assassinated, and his son, Joseph Kabila, assumed leadership. Under his presidency, a peace agreement was eventually brokered, bringing the war to an official end in 2003.
The Resurgence of M23
A new wave of people are leaving the Congo now that M23 is on the move again
In 2018, the Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced its first peaceful transfer of power. Félix Tshisekedi won the presidential election, succeeding Joseph Kabila.
Tshisekedi inherited a nation plagued by conflict, poverty, disease, and food insecurity. Yet despite being re-elected in 2023, the country’s humanitarian and human rights crises have only worsened.
During this time, violence was intensifying in eastern DRC. More than 120 armed groups operated in the region — including the notorious M23.
The M23 (March 23) movement was originally formed in 2012 after the Congolese government failed to uphold a peace agreement meant to address the discrimination against the Tutsi minority.
Although the group briefly captured the city of Goma, a city of over two million people and a vital trade hub, they were ultimately defeated and faded from the spotlight … until recently.
After years of dormancy, M23 has returned in full force and once again seized control of Goma.
Now, M23 is reportedly threatening to march toward the capital, Kinshasa, raising alarm across the region and beyond.
A New Chapter of Violence
Refugees and displaced people in the DRC are waiting for help and hope
As Congolese forces battle the M23 rebel group, countless families have been caught in the crossfire.
Civilians have been killed, displacement camps have been raided, and critical infrastructure like schools and hospitals have been destroyed. Since M23 has taken control of Goma, Amnesty International has reported:
“The Rwandan-backed M23 armed group has raided hospitals, abducted patients, including civilians and hospitalized Congolese soldiers, from their beds and subjected them to acts of torture.”
Both M23 fighters and government forces have also been accused of sexual violence, including rape and abuse of women and young girls.
Today, there are more than 6.2 million displaced people in the DRC and more than one million Congolese refugees in neighboring countries.
Christians Under Attack
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ experiencing persecution
Persecution of Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo has also significantly increased in recent years — particularly in the eastern region where the militant groups have control.
Churches are frequently shut down, and pastors are attacked. Christian women and girls face the constant threat of abduction, rape, trafficking, and forced marriage. Men who follow Christ are often maimed, executed, or forced to join the militia.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamic extremist group, has carried out brutal attacks against Christian communities.
Just recently, the ADF murdered 70 Christians for their faith. On Feb. 13, ADF soldiers forced believers out of their homes and took them to a Protestant church. Once inside, they tied them up and beat them to death with hammers and machetes.
Now, Christians have joined the masses of people fleeing to other countries in hopes of escaping this violent persecution.
How You Can Help
You can make an impact that will outlive you and last for eternity by helping people affected by war
The future for refugees and displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is uncertain … but you can be a lifeline for someone in need today.
When you give right now, your gift will provide a week’s worth of supplies like emergency food, clean water, medical care, God’s Word, and more to one refugee or displaced person from the DRC or another war-torn country.
Click the button to learn more about how you can help Congolese refugees and other displaced people today.