Kidnapped by One Side, Maimed by the Other: A Teenager's Ordeal in Congo's 30-Year War.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, civilians like Innocent Bizimana continue to suffer the consequences of the country's 30-year war. Bizimana, an 18-year-old who was kidnapped by a militia and forced to join their ranks, had his left leg amputated after a shell exploded in front of him. The conflict in eastern Congo, fueled by regional governments and militias vying for control of the region's natural resources, has displaced over 1.5 million people since 2022. Both the Rwandan-backed M23 militia and the Congolese army have been accused of recruiting child soldiers and committing human rights abuses. The situation is worsening, with fears that the M23 could take the city of Goma, causing further displacement and suffering. [Extracted from the article]