The HORN Bulletin: Volume VIII Issue I January-February 2025 – THE CRISIS IN THE DRC Can Diplomacy Work or is War Inevitable?

The ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a critical juncture following the flawed December 2023 elections, escalating violence between the Congolese military and insurgent groups such as the March 23 Movement (M23) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). M23, with alleged ties to Rwanda and Uganda, and the ISIS-affiliated ADF are among the over 100 armed groups operating in the region, exacerbating a decades-long humanitarian crisis. As of March 2024, the UN reported that 7.2 million people had been internally displaced, making DRC one of the worst humanitarian disasters globally. The roots of this conflict date back to the First and Second Congo Wars (1996–2003),