DRC: M23 Rebels Force Schools to Fund Terrorism Through Illegal Fees
In eastern DRC, M23 rebels have implemented a disturbing system of illegal school fees to fund their operations. This practice not only violates constitutional rights to free education but transforms schools into unwitting supporters of terrorism, affecting thousands of families and threatening the region's educational future.
A closed school in eastern DRC where M23 rebels have imposed illegal fees on students
"The money I pay for my child's education is being used to buy weapons that destroy schools," laments a father, his voice breaking with grief.
In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a chilling system is taking root in territories occupied by the RDF-M23-AFC armed groups, backed by Rwanda. In these areas where terror and impunity reign, schools - long considered the last refuge of innocence - are being diverted from their primary mission of education into becoming a source of war funding.
Education Turned into a Weapon of War
Numerous parents report illegal taxes imposed by RDF-M23-AFC forces to enroll their children in primary school. This practice openly violates the Congolese Constitution, which guarantees free education. The collected fees benefit neither classrooms nor school supplies. Instead, they fuel the purchase of weapons which, in a tragic irony, are turned against the very children whose families were forced to pay.
Double Burden on Local Communities
Local communities face a devastating double burden. They watch their children being denied quality education while their meager resources fund massacres in their own villages. The RDF-M23-AFC methods mirror those of the most radical terrorist organizations: forced recruitment of minors, large-scale atrocities, rape as a weapon of war, and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure.
International Sanctions and UN Documentation
The RDF-M23-AFC movement operates openly despite being under U.S. and European sanctions for extreme violence against civilian populations. Washington and Brussels directly accuse the armed group of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. These restrictive measures target both fighters and certain Rwandan officials, including asset freezes and travel bans.
Rwanda's Shadow Over the Crisis
Behind these violations, Rwanda's role remains under scrutiny. Kigali stands accused of providing military, logistical, and political support to the movement, violating international law and Congolese sovereignty. Multiple human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have gathered compelling evidence of this involvement.
Impact on African Development and Education
This systematic attack on education represents more than just a local crisis - it threatens the foundation of African development and progress. By targeting schools and forcing families to fund terrorism, the M23 rebels are not just destroying infrastructure; they're attacking the very future of the region and its potential for economic growth.
The international community must act decisively to protect education as a fundamental right and ensure that schools remain spaces of learning rather than sources of conflict funding. The future of Congo's youth, and by extension Africa's potential for innovation and economic development, hangs in the balance.
Edwin Gyimah
Ghanaian journalist, covering African affairs for the past 10 years.