What's going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo? · Refugee Week 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a deepening refugee crisis, driven by a resurgence of violent conflict in its mineral-rich eastern provinces. For more than three decades, this region has been marred by instability, but recent escalations have triggered one of the most significant waves of displacement in years. Fighting intensified in early 2025, as the M23 rebel group seized large areas of North and South Kivu, displacing tens of thousands and sparking widespread fear among civilians.
The violence, involving clashes between non-state armed groups, the Congolese armed forces (FARDC), and M23 rebels, has led to serious human rights violations, including attacks on civilians, child recruitment, and the destruction of homes. Despite a declaration of principles signed between the DRC and Rwanda on 25 April 2025 in support of peace, heavy fighting resumed the very next day, underscoring the fragile and volatile security landscape.
The humanitarian fallout has been immense. Between January and late April 2025, Uganda received over 60,000 Congolese asylum seekers—a staggering 603% increase compared to the same period in 2024. In just four weeks (1–27 April), 22,589 people fled across the border. Meanwhile, more than 70,000 Congolese, mostly from Uvira, Walungu, Bukavu, Saké, Minova, and Goma, have crossed into Burundi since mid-February. Host countries are struggling to accommodate the rapid influx, with resources stretched thin and camps becoming dangerously overcrowded.
Inside the DRC, displacement continues at scale, with many families living in makeshift shelters and cut off from access to clean water, healthcare, and education. The crisis is both a protection emergency and a test of regional solidarity. It demands urgent international support—not only to meet the rising humanitarian needs but also to ensure safe refuge and long-term solutions for those forced to flee.
Here are the key statistics as reported from Amnesty International and UNHCR:
Between 1 and 27 April, Uganda received 22,589 asylum seekers from DRC, bringing total new arrivals since January 2025 to 60,569, an increase of 603% compared to the same period in 2024.
7.3 million internally displaced in the DRC
70,000+ refugees fled to Burundi since mid-February 2025
Sources