In 2023, the humanitarian crisis in Ituri Province, part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused over 1.6 million people to be displaced, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Despite this alarming figure, global attention remains focused on the worsening situation in Goma, North Kivu province, overshadowing the escalating conflict in Ituri.
Intensified inter-communal violence has worsened tensions, leading to a breakdown in social cohesion and the displacement of hundreds of thousands since February 2024.
Meanwhile, the NRC, through its country director Eric Batonon’s statement on Thursday, urged the international community to address the crisis in Ituri.
“We cannot afford to overlook the deteriorating conflict in Ituri. The lack of international attention beyond the crisis in North Kivu and the increasing breakdown in relations between local communities across Ituri demand immediate action. We need to be able to deliver more humanitarian aid while also promoting dialogue and reconciliation locally,” part of the statement read.
He noted that the increased frequency of violent attacks in Ituri over the past six months has prevented locals from farming their lands due to fear of reprisals, worsening their ability to support their families.
Numerous communities are reportedly seeking sanctuary in more stable regions, where both displaced persons and host communities compete for limited resources like food, jobs, and land, amidst inadequate international assistance.
The First Congo War (1996–1997) was triggered by the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which ethnic Hutu extremists killed an estimated one million minority ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
This genocide catalysed the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as the “African World War,” which has claimed approximately six million lives since 1996, ranking among the deadliest conflicts in history.
Since the Rwandan Genocide, eastern DRC has been engulfed in conflict, involving various armed factions representing diverse ethnic and religious groups.
The influx of genocidaires and victims into eastern DRC post-genocide has worsened the region’s instability, leading to the formation of large refugee populations and militias due to a lack of governance.
The DRC government’s failure to address governance issues and simmering ethnic tensions worsens the situation, empowering non-state actors.
Eastern DRC hosts displaced populations, many with connections to key armed groups like M23, Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda, and the Allied Democratic Forces.
These groups, backed by refugees seeking economic opportunities or driven by ideology, receive support from neighbouring governments like Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, acting as proxies in the regional power struggle.
According to a Relief Web report, since late 2023, eastern Congo has experienced escalated conflict, causing turmoil in communities. Families are continually displaced, resulting in economic losses, reduced harvests, and precarious livelihoods.
The conflict between the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and their allies in North Kivu has reached alarming levels, displacing over 1.7 million people by the M23 crisis alone as of February 13, 2024.
The provincial capital, Goma, has become a haven for many fleeing violence in North Kivu, further straining already limited resources.
To tackle the crises, Batonon stressed the importance of rebuilding trust and fostering community relationships to prevent future conflicts, emphasising grassroots efforts for sustainable peace. He also highlighted the need to enhance support for conflict transformation and social cohesion initiatives in Ituri to address the humanitarian crisis and establish lasting peace.
