Since March 2022, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in serious crisis – but the world isn’t taking notice.
The terrifying conflict in the mineral-rich country has killed thousands and caused massive amounts of people to flee their homes: almost seven million people are considered Internal Displaced People (IDP) in the country. Families are now sheltering wherever they can, in buildings such as churches and schools or in large camps.
In the aftermath of the violent national elections that took place in December 2023, severe clashes between the military and insurgents—most prominently M23 (March 23 Movement) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)—continued in eastern DRC. The M23 is a primarily ethnically Tutsi rebel group with ties to the Rwandan and Ugandan governments, while ADF is an Islamic militia group affiliated with ISIS. There are over 100 non-state armed groups active in the region.
Clashes dramatically increased in February 2024, provoking international outrage and desperate humanitarian conditions. Though the conflict originated in the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the current developments show no end in sight.
Lizartistry’s visual notes retrace the stages of the various events that led to the current escalation.
