Farmers Return to Rebel-Held Territory in Eastern Congo Amid Fragile Conditions

 KIBUMBA, Democratic Republic of Congo, — In the fertile fields of Kibumba, a key agricultural hub in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, returning farmers face new and complex challenges as they attempt to resume life under the shadow of rebel control.

Following the recent military advances of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group—part of a protracted conflict with roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide—over 1.2 million people have been displaced in North and South Kivu provinces since January, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Yet in the same timeframe, more than 1.8 million individuals, comprising over 350,000 households, have returned to homes they once fled, often under pressure from occupying forces.

Among them is Ndagijimana Ntaboba, a 48-year-old vegetable farmer from Kibumba, a town roughly 25 kilometers north of Goma along National Road 2. The region is renowned for its production of cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, and beets, which supply much of the food for nearby cities.

Ntaboba and his family fled Kibumba in 2022 amid escalating clashes between M23 and Congolese government forces. They took refuge in Kanyaruchinya, a village closer to Goma. “We spent three years living in very poor conditions. It was a great suffering. We went hungry for days,” he recalled.

When M23 seized control of Goma earlier this year and dismantled several displacement camps, Ntaboba—like many others—had little choice but to return. Upon arriving in Kibumba, he discovered another family cultivating his land. In order to reclaim his harvest, he was compelled to pay them approximately $600. He now relies on borrowed funds from relatives to restart his livelihood.

Over 60,000 residents fled Kibumba during earlier waves of conflict, but nearly 59,700 have now returned, according to estimates from the Congolese government and United Nations agencies.

Conditions remain dire for many. Some returnees found their homes destroyed by shelling. Others lack seeds and essential tools to restart farming.

“The situation for them is very precarious because they are not getting much help,” said Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, following a visit to the region. While he noted the visible relief among some returnees, he emphasized that many had been coerced into leaving displacement camps. “They said, no, we were forced out of the camps. We had 48 to 72 hours to return home.”

Egeland also voiced concern that unresolved land disputes could further destabilize the region, potentially triggering renewed tensions in an already fragile environment.

As eastern Congo grapples with conflict, displacement, and uncertain returns, the resilience of communities like Kibumba remains tested by the harsh realities of life under rebel rule.