Geneva, February 24, 2025 – At a high-level meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, the Democratic Republic of Congo's prime minister stated that approximately 7,000 people have been killed in fighting in the eastern part of the country since January.
The declaration underscores a dramatic escalation in a conflict that has already spanned over a decade.
Officials also reported that around 450,000 people have been left without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. The ongoing advance by the M23 rebel group - now capturing vast swathes of territory and valuable mineral deposits - represents the gravest escalation in recent years and has raised fears of a broader war.
In her remarks, the prime minister urged the international community to act decisively. “It is impossible to describe the screams and cries of millions of victims of this conflict,” she said, calling for the imposition of “dissuasive sanctions” to help curb the ongoing violence, mass displacements, and summary executions.
The conflict has drawn sharp international criticism, with allegations that neighboring Rwanda has provided support to the M23 rebels - allegations that Rwanda has repeatedly rejected. Meanwhile, the DRC has suffered successive losses in North and South Kivu provinces since the beginning of the year, fueling further criticism of the government’s military strategy.
In his opening remarks at the 58th UN Human Rights Council, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that human rights around the world are being “suffocated,” highlighting the dire situation in the DRC as an example of global human rights abuses.
As the violence continues to claim lives and displace communities, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and address what many describe as a deteriorating humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.
Rwanda has expressed support for the M23 rebel group's decision to withdraw from the strategic mining town of Walikale in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and for the DRC's commitment to halting hostilities as part of ongoing peace efforts.
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi is considering a sit-down with Rwanda backed armed group M23.
The escalation of violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has forced the closure of 2,594 schools, impacting the education of more than 1.1 million children, according to a government statement issued by the Education Ministry on Wednesday.
The International Criminal Court is appealing for armed groups in eastern Congo to abide by international law. It's after fighting has spread in the mineral-rich region as the M23 rebels continue to capture key cities, intensifying the conflict and humanitarian crisis.
The humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo worsens after M23 rebels captured Kavumu Airport, a key hub for aid and military operations, further isolating conflict zones.
European leaders, including Kaja Kallas and Jean-Noel Barrot, are urging Russia to show goodwill by agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine and making humanitarian gestures like returning deported Ukrainian children and releasing prisoners of war.
Elon Musk handed out million-dollar checks to voters in Wisconsin to support a conservative candidate in a high-stakes state Supreme Court election. This move, echoing his 2024 tactics, aims to influence the court's stance on key issues like abortion and labor rights.
A French court has found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of misappropriating EU funds, potentially barring her from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen, head of the National Rally, faces a five-year ban from public office, which could significantly impact French politics.
Myanmar declared seven days of national mourning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and leaving more than 300 missing. Flags will be flown at half-staff during the mourning period.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving 3,400 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
European leaders, including Kaja Kallas and Jean-Noel Barrot, are urging Russia to show goodwill by agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine and making humanitarian gestures like returning deported Ukrainian children and releasing prisoners of war.
Elon Musk handed out million-dollar checks to voters in Wisconsin to support a conservative candidate in a high-stakes state Supreme Court election. This move, echoing his 2024 tactics, aims to influence the court's stance on key issues like abortion and labor rights.
A French court has found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of misappropriating EU funds, potentially barring her from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen, head of the National Rally, faces a five-year ban from public office, which could significantly impact French politics.
Myanmar declared seven days of national mourning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and leaving more than 300 missing. Flags will be flown at half-staff during the mourning period.
European leaders, including Kaja Kallas and Jean-Noel Barrot, are urging Russia to show goodwill by agreeing to a ceasefire in Ukraine and making humanitarian gestures like returning deported Ukrainian children and releasing prisoners of war.
Elon Musk handed out million-dollar checks to voters in Wisconsin to support a conservative candidate in a high-stakes state Supreme Court election. This move, echoing his 2024 tactics, aims to influence the court's stance on key issues like abortion and labor rights.
A French court has found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of misappropriating EU funds, potentially barring her from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen, head of the National Rally, faces a five-year ban from public office, which could significantly impact French politics.
Myanmar declared seven days of national mourning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and leaving more than 300 missing. Flags will be flown at half-staff during the mourning period.
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