From 2021 to 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continued to face significant conflict, particularly in the eastern regions of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
Throughout the conflict, rebel troops have carried out raids and massacres across the DRC, resulting in heavy civilian casualties. In October 2021, the Allied Democratic Forces launched a bombing campaign in Uganda, leading to the intervention of the Ugandan military a year later, which has pursued a policy of airstrikes against ADF targets. In contrast, the Islamic State has reportedly lent support to the Allied Democratic Forces.
The government under Félix Tshisekedi has tried to combat the insurgency by declaring martial law, with mixed success.
Humanitarian situation The ongoing conflict in the country has led to thousands of deaths, millions displaced, food insecurity, and widespread human rights violations. UN convoys have been raided, leading to the murder of Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio, possibly by the FDLR. Many refugee camps for these displaced people have been raided by rebels, prompting condemnation from the United Nations.
According to reporters, the ADF has used civilians as human shields, which is a war crime under international law.
The UN has reported that about 7.3 million people were internally displaced by the end of 2024. The ongoing humanitarian crisis leaves approximately 25.4 million people in need of humanitarian aid in the whole country (as of 2024).
Summary counts of fatalities, internally displaced people and attacks by year Deaths of civilians per year:
Development of internally displaced people (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024):
Available summary of attack type: In 2021, 898 terrorist attacks were registered in the country, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility for more than 300 of those attacks.Number of terrorist attacks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2018 to 2021. www.statista.com. 2023-02-01. In 2022, 1,063 to 1,198 people were killed, 714 to 839 were abducted, and at least 174 were injured by members of the Islamic State.
From January to October 2021, 260 security incidents affecting humanitarian work were reported, resulting in seven humanitarian workers being killed, 26 injured, and 23 kidnapped. In 2022, 293 security incidents were recorded.
List of attacks per year 2021
DateDeadInjuredInvolvedLocation – Circumstances 4 January 22 unknown ADF North Kivu, Beni territory, Mwenda – 22 people were killed when the ADF attack the village of Mwenda with machetes and guns. 5 January 4 unknown FPIC Ituri Province, Baboa Bokoe chiefdom – Three civilians and one soldier were killed in a FPIC attack on three villages setting fire to multiple homes. 10 January 6 (+2) 1 Mai-Mai North Kivu, Nyamitwitwi, Rutshuru – Six park rangers were killed and one injured when Mai-Mai attacked their positions. 12 January 3 (+2) unknown ADF Ituri Province, Bahatsha – ADF ambushed a company of FARDC soldiers in the village of Bahatsha killing three and losing two of their own. 13 January 15 unknown Ituri Province, locality of Abembi – ADF attacked a village in the locality of Abembi killing 15 people. 14 January 46 unknown Ituri Province, Irumu territory – 46 people were killed when ADF militants attacked a village in the Irumu territory. 18 January 1 3 Armed men North Kivu, chiefdom of Bwito – Four civilians were kidnapped and one beheaded in the chiefdom of Bwito when unidentified armed men demanding US$3,000 for their release. 26 January 0 6 Anti-balaka rebels Nord-Ubangi Province, Mogóró cell – Anti-balaka rebels from the Central African Republic crossed over into the DRC and kidnapped six fishermen along the Ubangi river. 5 February 12 unknown ADF North Kivu, Mabule – Twelve people were killed when ADF attacked the village of Mabule. 7 February 1 3 Mai-Mai North Kivu, Osso-Banyungu sector – Mai-Mai killed the official delegate of the governor of North Kivu, Mai-Mai also kidnapped a person at the scene. 9 February 10 unknown ADF Ituri Province, Kithovirwa – ADF killed ten people in Kithovirwa village with knives. 10 February 2 1 Bandits Ituri Province, Linji – Two people were killed and another wounded when bandits attacked Linji village at 10 p.m. local time, stealing valuables. 13 February 1 unknown FPIC Ituri Province, Kabarole – FPIC militiamen attacked the village of Kabarole at 3 p.m. local time killing a woman and stealing 60 cows. 14 February 5 (+6) unknown Bakata-Katanga Haut-Katanga Province, Lubumbashi – Four police and one civilian were killed when the Bakata-Katanga militia attack Lubumbashi. Six attackers were also killed. 14 unknown ADF Ituri Province, locality of Ndalya – Fourteen civilians were killed and a church burned when ADF attacked the locality of Ndalya at 10 a.m. local time. 15 February 10 unknown North Kivu, Kalembo – Ten civilians were killed and pharmacies and shops looted when ADF attacked the village of Kalembo. 17 February 4 2 North Kivu, commune of Oicha – ADF attacked the commune of Oicha at 7:30 pm local time killing four and injuring two. 18–19 February 10(+6) unknown CODECO Ituri Province, Mongwalu – CODECO militants from the URDPC branch attacked the city of Mongwalu killing ten people, burning 30 homes, and looting many others. CODECO lost six of their own soldier in the attack. 19 February 1 1 ADF North Kivu, Musuku – ADF ambushed a motorcycle in Musuku killing one and injuring one. 22 February 3 0 FDLR (Suspected) North Kivu, Virunga National Park – Luca Attanasio, the Italian ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was assassinated along with two others by suspected FDLR gunmen while traveling through Virunga National Park.