Despite ongoing peace talks, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) shows no signs of abating. Local forces continue to clash with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, causing widespread devastation and displacement.
The M23 rebels have made significant territorial gains in the eastern part of DR Congo, with the capture of Goma in North Kivu province marking a major advance for the insurgency. Award-winning photojournalist Hugh Kinsella Cunningham has been on the ground documenting the rebel takeover and its impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
In a recent interview on FRANCE 24’s Perspective programme, Cunningham shared harrowing accounts of civilians being forced by the rebels to leave displacement camps and return to their war-torn villages. These villages have been ravaged by the ongoing fighting, leaving residents with little to return to except destruction and despair.
The situation in DR Congo remains dire, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of the violence and instability. As peace talks continue to falter and fighting persists, the need for humanitarian aid and intervention is more urgent than ever.
Cunningham’s powerful images serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the resilience of those caught in its grip. Their stories deserve to be told and their plight not forgotten as the world watches the situation in DR Congo unfold.
