The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) is deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is driven by a complex interplay of historical grievances, security concerns, and economic interests. Addressing this crisis should be a priority for the region and the international community. 

Above all, that requires a clear understanding of its root causes, including a careful examination of three key aspects:

• The Quest for Identity: The March 23 Movement (M23) is a local armed group primarily composed of Tutsi Congolese who have been denied Congolese citizenship since the Mobutu era. As an armed group, they seek recognition and rights and have resisted ongoing exclusion through force, contributing to civilian deaths and mass displacement amid a wider conflict involving multiple actors.
  
• The Question of Security: Rwanda has been accused of backing the M23 in part to resist the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) in eastern DRC. The FDLR – remnants of the defeated “génocidaires” of 1994 in Rwanda, who still believe that Tutsis should be exterminated, and that Rwanda should be Hutu only – has been leading incursions into Rwanda with the aim of ousting the government there.  

• The Search for Minerals: The eastern DRC is well-known for its minerals , which are crucial to electronics and advanced technology, and thus highly relied upon and sought after by superpowers. Instead of supporting the Congolese economy, attempts to lower the prices of minerals through aggressive smuggling and concealment have hindered it.  

The interplays outlined above have led to the killing of thousands of civilians, while many others have fled to neighboring countries or become internally displaced. Rape and sexual violence have been used as weapons of war, further exacerbating the crisis. In addition, malnutrition has become the leading cause of death among children, and recurrent conflict has disrupted education and left many children out of school.

Despite the efforts made by regional and international actors, such as the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, including the Republic of Angola and recently Qatar, the crisis in eastern DRC is still far from reaching everlasting peace. The violations of human rights continue to escalate as M23 continues to gain territories. 

ICSC proposes the following as sustainable resolutions to the crisis:

• The provision of platforms that support inclusive dialogues about the war’s root causes and identity grievances in order to foster reconciliation.
• Regional cooperation to address security threats and prevent further escalation.
• A commitment by all parties to human rights and humanitarian aid for civilians, especially IDPs. 
• Transparent and fair management of natural resources to break the cycle of conflict fueled by economic interests.

The Africa Sites of Conscience Network, one of the six networks of ICSC, calls on the international community to act with urgency to address both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the long-term structural challenges facing the DRC and the broader Great Lakes region. It urges immediate intervention to end the war, restore stability, and open humanitarian corridors to provide urgent aid to displaced civilians while emphasizing the Congolese government’s responsibility to protect its people.