Bringing the overlooked impact of DR Congo’s displacement crisis into focus
British photographer Hugh Kinsella Cunningham – recognised for his striking images of civilians displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo – wants to bring the untold story of the M23 rebellion to "as many new audiences as possible." His work recently earned him the ICRC Humanitarian Visa d’Or award, an honour given to photographers who excel in documenting humanitarian crises.
Through his lens, Cunningham captures both the destruction of war and the resilience of the human spirit, aiming to shed light on a conflict that has been long overlooked.
"The pictures in this exhibition basically chart this [M23] conflict, which perhaps not many people have heard of," Cunningham told RFI at the Visa Pour l’Image photojournalism festival, which ends on Sunday in Perpignan.
The March 23 Movement (M23) had been dormant in eastern DRC for a decade, but by late 2021, the Rwandan government and army began rearming them, leading the group to resume raids into Congo, the Goma-based photographer explained.
Over the past two years, Cunningham has photographed displacement camps in North Kivu, where civilians have been forced to live amid the fighting between government forces and the M23. His images also capture frontline areas and attacks on civilians.
"Since the front lines have been moving and moving, civilians basically have nowhere left to run. There's a front line of artillery positions that surround the city of Goma," Cunningham said.
Cunningham also struggled with limited humanitarian access.
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
Inside Ecuador's drug war with US photojournalist John Moore
France's top photojournalism awards go to Palestinians covering Gaza war
Photographs capture heart-rending journey of migrants trying to reach the US
