The ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda remains a significant issue, exacerbated by deep-rooted geopolitical, historical, and economic tensions particularly revolving around the Congo's abundant mineral resources. In an interview with Africanews, Dismas Kitenge Senga, the president of the human rights organization Groupe Lotus, articulated the worsening conditions faced by residents in conflict-affected areas. Kitenge emphasized that since the resurgence of the AFC-M23 rebel movement, many regions in eastern Congo find themselves under rebel control, leading to critical humanitarian crises.

Kitenge illustrated the isolation imposed on citizens by stating that there is no direct means of transport or communication connecting the eastern and western parts of the country. Residents in the occupied territories are often forced to transit through Rwanda to access other parts of the DRC, highlighting the severe limitations and hardships faced by ordinary people. With civil servants not being paid and local economies collapsing, the societal infrastructure is increasingly strained, resulting in the circulation of goods being severely restricted and local communities suffering.

Despite international diplomatic efforts, such as the Washington Agreement peace accord aimed at alleviating tensions, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Kitenge’s call for justice and peace underscores the urgent need for a reassessment of global responses to the DRC's crisis, urging that the world must not abandon the people in these conflict zones, who continue to endure dire struggles as their rights and livelihoods are compromised.