As the world fixates on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, a devastating conflict is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, largely ignored by the international community. In recent weeks, the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, has escalated its offensive, capturing the strategic city of Bukavu on February 14, forcing a chaotic withdrawal of Congolese forces and plunging the region into further instability. Just days later, on February 27, explosions at an M23 rally in Bukavu killed and injured multiple people, with the rebels blaming Congolese authorities for the attack. Meanwhile, in Goma, one of the last government-controlled strongholds, the humanitarian crisis is worsening. The Bulengo camp, housing over 700,000 displaced civilians, is running out of resources as violence spreads, leaving families trapped between war and starvation.
Despite the scale of this crisis, the response from the international community has been muted. While Ukraine and Gaza receive widespread media coverage, diplomatic interventions, and billions in aid, Congo’s war is largely ignored. The selective nature of global engagement raises serious questions: Why do some wars command global outrage while others remain in the shadows? And what does this say about the priorities of world powers and the way humanitarian crises are addressed?
Rwanda’s Push for Power in Eastern Congo
Tensions between Rwanda and the DRC go back to the 1990s. In 1996, Rwanda invaded what was then called Zaire. At the time, Rwandan officials reportedly presented a map showing Rwanda as a country 50 percent larger than its actual size, extending deep into Congolese territory.
Today, some in Rwandan political circles openly suggest that eastern Congo could become a permanent buffer zone under Rwandan influence. Others propose a “Kurdistan model,” where a non-state armed group like M23 governs the area, similar to how the Kurdish Regional Government operates in Iraq.
The Congolese government, weak and plagued by corruption, has been unable to counter Rwanda’s ambitions. At present, the only real obstacles to Rwanda’s expansion are international donors and diplomats. However, most have been hesitant to take strong action.
Why Western Countries Won’t Stand Up to Rwanda
Despite clear evidence of Rwanda’s interference in the DRC, the West has been reluctant to respond. Rwanda has built a reputation as a valuable ally to Western nations, making it difficult for countries like the united States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to take decisive action.
There are three key reasons for this. First, Rwanda is the biggest African contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Its soldiers serve in conflict zones worldwide, giving the country significant diplomatic leverage. Western governments don’t want to alienate a country that plays such a crucial role in global security. Second, Rwanda has sent thousands of troops to northern Mozambique to help protect gas projects run by European companies. This makes Rwanda an important security partner for France and Italy, whose businesses benefit from this protection. Lastly, Rwanda has positioned itself as a solution to Europe’s migration crisis by offering to take in asylum-seekers from the UK and Denmark. These controversial agreements, though challenged in courts, highlight how Rwanda strategically positions itself as useful to Western governments.
For these reasons, even as the M23 rebellion intensified, the UK and EU continued to increase funding to Rwanda. Only recently, after M23 seized the key city of Goma, have some countries started applying pressure.
Western Sanctions: Too Little, Too Late?
In response to M23’s offensive in Goma, Western governments have begun speaking out. Germany has suspended talks on a new aid package for Rwanda. The UK has paused some of its financial support. The United States has sanctioned James Kabarebe, a top Rwandan military official long involved in the country’s DRC operations. But these actions may not be enough. Rwandan President Paul Kagame remains defiant, saying in February that he will “spit in the face” of those who threaten him with sanctions. His words suggest that Rwanda will not back down unless faced with much stronger international consequences.
Meanwhile, millions of Congolese civilians remain caught between a weak government and a foreign-backed rebel group. If M23’s advances continue, the conflict could destabilize neighboring countries like Uganda and Burundi, which have their own histories of political unrest.
Sudan and Syria: Other Forgotten Wars
Congo is not the only crisis being ignored by the world. Other long-running conflicts, such as those in Sudan and Syria, have also faded from global attention despite their devastating human toll. Since April 2023, Sudan has been in a brutal civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war has displaced more than 8 million people, making it one of the world’s worst displacement crises.
The humanitarian situation is worsening. In North Darfur’s Zamzam camp, home to over 500,000 displaced people, severe malnutrition is rampant. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been forced to suspend operations due to attacks and looting. The UN has warned that, without urgent aid, Sudan could face one of the worst famines in decades. Yet, unlike Ukraine, which has received billions in international support, Sudan’s crisis barely registers in global headlines. Diplomatic action has been weak, and humanitarian funding is far below what is needed. Syria’s civil war has entered its fourteenth year, making it one of the longest-running conflicts in modern history. More than 600,000 people have died, and half of the country’s population has been displaced.
While the fighting has slowed in some areas, violence continues, especially in Idlib, where civilians endure airstrikes and economic collapse. Syria remains in deep crisis, with millions lacking access to food, healthcare, and clean water. However, the world’s attention has moved on, and international support has dwindled. Peace remains a distant hope, but the country has been largely abandoned by the global community.
A Global Pattern of Neglect
The wars in Congo, Sudan, and Syria reveal a clear pattern: the world’s attention is selective. Conflicts that do not fit the interests of powerful nations are ignored, no matter how devastating they are. While Ukrainian and Palestinian civilians deserve international support, so too do the millions suffering in Africa and the Middle East.
Western governments, media, and humanitarian organizations must address these blind spots. The crisis in the DRC needs global recognition, and real diplomatic pressure must be applied to Rwanda to end its interference. Similarly, Sudan and Syria require urgent attention before their humanitarian situations worsen further. Ignoring these wars today will only lead to greater instability and human suffering in the future. The world cannot afford to keep looking away.