{"id":304258,"date":"2025-10-06T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T11:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=304258"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:26:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T13:26:40","slug":"democratic-republic-of-the-congo-genocide-emergency-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2025\/10\/democratic-republic-of-the-congo-genocide-emergency-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic Republic of the Congo Genocide Emergency 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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M23 consolidates control over Goma, DR Congo.\u00a0 Source: Bellingcat<\/p><\/div>\n

1 Oct 2025\u00a0<\/em>– Since 1996, wars and ethnic conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have caused six\u00a0million deaths<\/a>.\u00a0The First Congo War began after the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsis in Rwanda\u00a0when\u00a0up to\u00a0two\u00a0million Hutus\u00a0crossed into the DRC<\/a>\u00a0and sought refuge in camps in North and South Kivu. Perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide\u00a0formed militias in the DRC, where they continued killing Congolese Tutsis, the Banyamulenge. In response, Congolese Tutsis formed the M23 militia.<\/span><\/p>\n

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During the First and Second Congo War (1996-1997, 1998-2003), millions of civilians were killed and over 100 armed militias emerged.<\/a>\u00a0These militias fight primarily to control the DRC\u2019s abundant natural resources<\/a>. One of the most active groups is the March 23 Movement (M23), composed mainly of ethnic Tutsis and backed by the Rwandan government<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In January 2025, M23 launched a new offensive<\/a>\u00a0against the Congolese Security forces and recaptured Goma, the regional hub of eastern DRC. The offensive involved 3000 to 4000 troops and displaced over 100,000 people.<\/a>\u00a0According to the United Nations (UN),<\/a>\u00a0Up\u00a0to 2000 civilians have been killed as M23 captured\u00a0rich mining areas. M23 and other ethnic militias\u00a0have committed numerous massacres.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As a result, one million Congolese have sought refuge abroad, and 21 million people in the country require urgent aid<\/a>, creating one of the world\u2019s deadliest humanitarian disasters. As of 30 April 2024, the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO)<\/a>\u00a0ended operations in South Kivu by transferring several bases to Congolese authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In the DRC, hundreds have died of cholera, with 9 out of 11 health zones affected and over 1450 confirmed cases, according to the UN<\/a>. There is widespread displacement and a severe hunger crisis<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The UN International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF)<\/a>\u00a0reports a surge in sexual violence against women and children, with thousands of new cases in two months.\u00a0Of 10,000 documented cases of rape and sexual violence, children make up 45% of victims<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 equivalent to one child raped every 30 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the wounded and sick must be protected, yet M23 stormed a hospital in Goma and took hundreds of patients hostage, according to Amnesty International<\/a>. Journalists and aid workers have been killed.\u00a0M23 and other ethnic militias have committed\u00a0 international crimes, including arbitrary arrests\u00a0and\u00a0detention, rapes, and many massacres, and\u00a0mass graves.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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On 27 June 2025 Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement.<\/a>\u00a0But M23 has not signed or disarmed.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Genocide Watch deems the DRC to be at:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Stage 3: Discrimination, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Stage 4: Dehumanization, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Stage 5: Organization, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Stage 6: Polarization, <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Stage 8: Persecution, and <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Stage 9: Extermination.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Genocide Watch Recommends:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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