Voices from Eastern Congo: War, hope and the fight for the future Documentary by AnewZ

The Baku-based TV channel AnewZ has aired a documentary on its YouTube channel titled "Frontline: DR Congo – Voices from the Rift," focused on the escalating crisis in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Through firsthand interviews and sharp commentary, the film highlights how the struggle is not merely about rebel groups and military offensives, but about the broader issues of political failure, resource exploitation, and regional rivalries. It paints a compelling picture of a failed state where both local and foreign actors exploit instability for economic and geopolitical gain.

At the centre of the crisis is the M23 rebel movement, whose rapid territorial gains in 2025—capturing cities like Goma, Bukavu, and Walikale—are presented not just as military operations but as symbols of the Congolese state's collapse. The film gives voice to leaders like Corneille Nangaa of the Congo River Alliance, who frame the uprising as a response to political marginalisation and institutional rot. Meanwhile, Rwanda’s alleged involvement is addressed with nuance, presenting Kigali’s denials alongside broader questions about who really profits from eastern Congo’s vast mineral wealth.

The documentary also sheds light on the international dimensions of the conflict. It critically examines the role of external powers—both regional militaries and Western companies—accused of fueling the violence to secure access to gold, cobalt, and tin. The film points to French corporate interests, particularly Bolloré, as emblematic of a modern form of neocolonialism where influence is exerted through economic control rather than direct rule.

By focusing on displaced civilians, shuttered hospitals, and silenced airports, it brings the consequences of geopolitical manoeuvring into stark relief. The crisis in eastern DRC is not only a struggle over resources—it is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding under the watch of a global community that has long prioritised profit and control over peace and justice.

Caliber.Az is pleased to present its readers with the video report featured below:

By Khagan Isayev