More than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the past week, as heavy clashes between the Congolese army and armed groups have escalated in North Kivu province, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The M23 rebel group, which has been active in the region since 2021 and is accused of receiving support from Rwanda, seized control of Masisi on Saturday. The strategically significant town, located about 80 kilometers north of Goma, is home to 40,000 people and serves as the administrative capital of the Masisi territory, a region rich in agriculture, livestock, and mineral resources.
OCHA reported that between January 1 and 3, 2025, violent clashes between the Congolese army and a non-state armed group in Masisi Centre displaced an estimated 102,000 people. The influx of displaced families is expected to further strain local resources and humanitarian aid efforts, already stretched by the displacement of over 600,000 individuals across the province as of November 2024.
While a brief period of calm was reported in Masisi Centre on January 5, prompting some families to return, humanitarian organizations have raised concerns that the ongoing violence may worsen the situation in the region.
Health teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the DRC’s Ministry of Health have been providing medical assistance to those affected by the fighting. Between Friday and Monday, MSF treated 75 individuals at two hospitals in the area, which also offered shelter to hundreds of civilians seeking refuge from the violence.
The M23’s continued offensive has deepened the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, where local and foreign armed groups have been in conflict for decades. The area’s mineral wealth has made it a battleground for competing factions, while the failure of peace talks—mediated by Angola in December 2024—has hindered progress towards a resolution.
The ongoing conflict highlights the challenges facing the region as it grapples with a complex mix of local grievances, foreign interference, and competition for valuable natural resources. The situation remains volatile, with hopes for a lasting peace dependent on international diplomacy and local reconciliation efforts.