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Kennedy's attacks on mRNA vaccines and science threaten global public health

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, September 3rd 2025 at 0:46 GMT by World Socialist Web Site
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The Kivu Crisis: An Unfinished War, 2025

On September 3 , 2025, the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) published a detailed analysis of the ongoing violence in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the Kivu region—an area that has been a hotbed of conflict since the 1990s. The piece, written by an editor identified only as “IKVI,” draws heavily on reports from the United Nations, humanitarian agencies, and local Congolese sources, and it situates the current flare‑up within a broader historical context of state failure, resource exploitation, and foreign intervention.

A New Wave of Violent Militia Activity

The article opens by describing the latest surge of hostilities involving the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), two Hutu‑based and Islamist‑inclined groups that have operated in Kivu for decades. Over the past month, the FDLR has reportedly carried out a series of coordinated ambushes against smallholder farmers and local police in North Kivu, while the ADF has intensified its attacks on villages near Lake Albert. According to the report, the combined assault killed more than 200 civilians, displaced an additional 50,000 people, and disrupted the flow of food and medicine to already beleaguered communities.

The editor cites the latest UN Security Report, which confirms that the FDLR’s presence has grown in the South Kivu town of Mweso, where the militia has taken control of a key transportation hub. “The FDLR’s use of child soldiers and the systematic looting of local resources illustrates how the ‘rebel’ narrative is weaponized to legitimize the extraction of wealth from the Congo’s mineral riches,” the piece notes.

Mineral Wealth as the Fuel of Conflict

A central theme of the article is the exploitation of Kivu’s vast mineral deposits—gold, coltan, tungsten, and cassiterite—by both state and non‑state actors. The writer explains that the government’s mining companies, often backed by foreign investors, benefit from the security vacuum created by the militias, who in turn use the profits from illegal mining to purchase arms from neighboring countries. The report references a 2023 WSWS piece titled “The Hidden Wealth of Kivu” that detailed how the illicit trade of “conflict minerals” has financed the FDLR’s operations for more than a decade.

The editor also links to a recent study by the International Anti‑Corruption Academy, which maps out the supply chains of these minerals and highlights the lack of transparency in Congolese mining contracts. “The state’s failure to enforce regulatory oversight has not only enabled the militias but also created a lucrative market for foreign arms dealers and corrupt officials,” the article argues.

The International Response – or Lack Thereof

The WSWS piece critiques the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) for its inadequate response to the escalating violence. Drawing on the 2024 “UN’s Failure in the DRC” report, the editor argues that MONUSCO’s troop numbers have dwindled by 30 % in the past year, and that its mandate has become increasingly limited to “protecting civilians” rather than actively dismantling militia structures. “The mission’s continued presence is more symbolic than effective,” the writer writes, citing the mission’s own admission that its rapid reaction forces cannot respond in time to many attacks.

The article also scrutinizes the role of the African Union’s peacekeeping force (AU‑Peace) in the region, noting that its deployment has been hampered by funding shortages and political reluctance among member states. “The international community’s willingness to intervene is still conditioned by the interests of powerful actors that benefit from the Congo’s resource wealth,” the piece emphasizes.

Local Humanitarian Crisis

Beyond the military analysis, IKVI’s article brings the reader into the everyday reality of civilians caught in the crossfire. Interviews with refugees from villages in North Kivu illustrate a dire humanitarian situation: food shortages, lack of clean water, and rampant disease are rampant. “The displacement camps are overcrowded, with inadequate sanitation and no reliable medical care,” the reporter reports. He cites data from Médecins Sans Frontières indicating that up to 60 % of displaced children are malnourished.

The piece links to an ongoing WSWS series on “Congo Refugee Camps,” which details the long‑term impact of forced migration on local economies and the challenges of providing basic services under security constraints. The writer argues that the failure to address the root causes of displacement—particularly militia control of resource-rich areas—renders any short‑term relief effort a bandage on a gaping wound.

The Road Ahead: Call for Structural Change

In its closing paragraphs, the article urges a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond military intervention. It calls for:

1. International sanctions on any entities, domestic or foreign, that profit from the sale of conflict minerals.
2. Strengthening of the Congolese judiciary to prosecute war crimes and enforce mining regulations.
3. Increased funding for MONUSCO and the African Union’s peacekeeping mission, coupled with a revised mandate to dismantle militia infrastructures.
4. Investments in local agriculture and education to break the cycle of poverty that fuels militia recruitment.

The piece ends with a stark reminder: “The Kivu crisis is not a distant footnote in global politics. It is a living testament to how colonial legacy, resource exploitation, and international indifference continue to shape the lives of millions in sub‑Saharan Africa.”

Key Links Referenced

• UN Security Report 2025 – Provides real‑time data on militia activity and displacement.
• The Hidden Wealth of Kivu (WSWS, 2023) – Examines the illicit mining trade.
• UN’s Failure in the DRC (WSWS, 2024) – Critiques MONUSCO’s operational effectiveness.
• International Anti‑Corruption Academy Study – Maps the mineral supply chain.
• Congo Refugee Camps Series (WSWS) – Details humanitarian impacts.

By weaving together on‑ground reports, UN documentation, and independent research, the article offers a comprehensive, multi‑layered view of the Kivu crisis, highlighting the urgent need for both international accountability and grassroots change.