War in the DR Congo: A Region in Need

Besuch in einem Camp bei Goma. Man schätzt ca. 700.000 Binnenvertriebene.

Interview with Chance Rwesi Urbain

The armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the North Kivu region, has been escalating since 2022. The militia “Mouvement du 23 Mars” (M23), supported by Rwanda, has occupied numerous towns and villages, including Bunagana, Rutchuru and Masisi. On January 28, 2025, the towns of Minova, Sake and Goma also fell into the hands of the rebels. 

This crisis is not only a humanitarian catastrophe, but also has economic reasons. The Kivu region is rich in valuable natural resources and therefore particularly attractive for takeover. The war has had a dramatic impact on the population: hundreds of thousands have been displaced and there is a lack of food, water and medical care.

Coffee production, a key economic sector in the region, is also suffering greatly. The harvest normally begins in February, but many farmers are no longer able to cultivate their fields. Coffee is being plundered in the rebel-held areas and exported via Rwanda. 

We spoke to Chance Rwesi Urbain, Managing Director of the CPNCK coffee cooperative. He talks about the challenges coffee farmers are currently facing and appeals to the international community not to ignore the crisis. 

Chance Rwezi
Chance Rwezi, Director of the coffee cooperative CPNCK on the island of Idjwi in Lake Kivu,
DRC; photo from Season 2 in Congo — What if we get it right?

Can you give us a brief overview of the current situation and explain which cities are particularly affected?

The situation in eastern DR Congo, particularly in North Kivu, has been catastrophic for the population since 2022, when the militia of the March 23 Movement (M23), supported by Rwanda, occupied the border town of Bunagana. Subsequently, several other localities in North Kivu, including Rutchuru and Masisi, were also occupied by the same militia. At the beginning of 2025, the cities of Minova, Sake, and Goma completely fell into the hands of the M23 on January 28, 2025. 

It should be noted that this war, imposed on our country, is economically driven, as the Kivu region is extremely rich in soil and subsoil resources (minerals). 

How does the current situation affect the daily lives of local residents, including yours?

This war has deeply affected the population, as people have become refugees within their own country. They lack food, water, and access to healthcare services. 

Farmers in the affected areas have abandoned their fields and crops, leading to famine and rising prices for basic necessities across the region. Cultivable lands are now occupied by M23 rebels and their Rwandan allies, preventing agricultural activities. 

MONUSCO Urubatt armored vehicles patrol the streets of Goma for civil defense
MONUSCO Urubatt armored vehicles patrol the streets of Goma for civil defense | Wikipedia | MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti | CC BY-SA 2.0

To what extent has coffee production been affected by the conflict?

The main coffee harvest begins in early February and ends in June. Currently, harvesting coffee in the occupied areas is extremely difficult because the local population has fled. Only the rebels remain to harvest the coffee, which is then transported to Rwanda and exported as Rwandan coffee. 

Additionally, coffee production is suffering because cooperatives that collect coffee from producers no longer have access to credit from microfinance institutions (MFIs) and banks, as these institutions are closed. 

What are the main concerns of coffee farmers at the moment?

The primary concern of coffee producers is the return of peace to their regions so that they can resume working on their fields.

Do you have any messages about the current situation that you would like to share with your customers, coffee lovers, or the world?

We want to tell them that the situation for farmers and the local population is extremely alarming and requires global involvement—international, diplomatic, material, and financial support.

What are the biggest constraints and challenges you will face in the coming years?

The constraints and challenges will be immense: 

  1. The population, especially the youth, will increasingly abandon villages due to the ongoing wars, leading to a severe labor shortage and high costs. Rural exodus and migration will increase. 
  2. Some coffee farms are at risk of being lost, as they are being overtaken by forests due to abandonment and lack of maintenance. 
  3. The population is deeply traumatized—there are already too many orphans, widows, and widowers, along with family separations, a decline in education, food insecurity, poverty, and widespread diseases. 

What measures are you currently taking to cope with this difficult period?

Resilience and psychosocial motivation. 

How can we support you as a partner during this time?

We need any form of support that can help alleviate the suffering caused by this war, particularly psychosocial support for producers. Most importantly, we count on you to inform the world that the eastern DR Congo has already lost more than 12 million lives due to Rwandan aggression. We are exhausted — we need peace now.

DR Kongo people standing by the lake
cumpa visits dr congo 2021

You can find out more about the DR Congo story with Cumpa HERE.

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