The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is once again teetering on the edge of deeper chaos, as former President Joseph Kabila makes a dramatic return to the political stage amid one of the country’s most violent and destabilizing crises in years. In a surprise move that has shocked both Kinshasa and international observers, Kabila reappeared in Goma—capital of North Kivu and a stronghold of the M23 rebel group—claiming that his return was a mission for peace. Few are buying it.
Since Kabila’s departure from the presidency in 2019, the country has remained politically fragile, but his re-emergence has sparked fears of an impending power struggle, or worse, a full-scale proxy war. Many in the capital and abroad view his arrival in rebel-held territory as a thinly veiled attempt to reassert influence and possibly disrupt the current government led by President Félix Tshisekedi. Speculation is rife that Kabila has cut a secret deal with M23 commanders—who are already accused of receiving support from neighboring Rwanda—to destabilize the east and force a political concession from Kinshasa.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming pace. The United Nations estimates that over 7 million people have been displaced due to conflict and insecurity across the country, with more than 400,000 forced to flee in the first four months of 2025 alone. Makeshift camps in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu are overflowing, and resources are stretched to the breaking point. UN agencies report a sharp rise in malnutrition, sexual violence, and child recruitment by armed groups.
The M23’s resurgence is at the heart of the crisis. After seizing large swaths of territory in 2024, including mineral-rich zones and vital transport routes, the rebels have entrenched themselves and even established their own administrative structures in some areas. The group’s operations are reportedly funded by illegal mining and the smuggling of coltan, gold, and tin—minerals that power smartphones and laptops worldwide. This has turned the eastern DRC into not just a battlefield, but a critical front in the global competition for resources.
Efforts by the East African Community (EAC) to mediate a truce have failed to gain traction. Talks in Nairobi earlier this month collapsed after Kinshasa refused to engage with representatives perceived to be aligned with Kabila or Rwanda. The African Union has called for calm but has offered little in the way of concrete support, while Western governments have issued predictable statements of concern without committing new resources or pressure.
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Perhaps most alarming is the surge in preventable diseases. The World Health Organization has declared parts of eastern DRC a public health emergency zone, as outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and measles rage through the displacement camps. With medical infrastructure decimated and health workers under threat, the region faces what WHO officials are calling a “nightmare scenario.” The rainy season has worsened conditions, flooding camps and contaminating water supplies.
Domestically, President Tshisekedi finds himself in an increasingly precarious position. His approval ratings are plummeting, and opposition leaders have seized on the Kabila crisis to challenge his legitimacy. Allegations of corruption, government inaction, and the erosion of press freedoms have only amplified public anger. With presidential elections scheduled for late 2025, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
And yet, the international response remains muted. While European companies continue to source minerals from the region—often through murky supply chains—there has been no serious movement to implement due diligence frameworks or sanction networks tied to conflict financing. The United States and EU have urged restraint but seem unwilling to intervene meaningfully, wary of being drawn into another intractable African war.
Kabila’s return, whether symbolic or strategic, could prove to be a turning point for the DRC. But whether it’s a return to the political table or the battlefield remains to be seen. For now, the people of the DRC are left navigating a nation where peace is as elusive as the justice they’ve long been denied. What’s clear is that Congo’s wounds are being reopened just as they were beginning to scar, and the road to healing has never looked longer or more uncertain.
