Rebels recruited to crush protests in DR Congo

In 2017, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) witnessed a significant escalation in political unrest as protests erupted demanding the resignation of President Joseph Kabila, whose term had ended. In a troubling report, Human Rights Watch revealed that the Kabila government resorted to recruiting former fighters from the 23 March Movement (M23) to suppress these protests. These former rebels were deployed to patrol the streets of major cities, where they engaged in violent crackdowns on demonstrators, leading to numerous human rights violations. The use of M23 fighters, known for their history of conflict and violence, raised serious concerns regarding the government's commitment to upholding human rights and the rule of law. The situation was exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, which disrupted agricultural activities, putting an estimated two million children at risk of starvation. The international community has condemned the government's actions, calling for accountability and urging a return to pea