[3] It was the largest town controlled by the former National Congress for the Defence of the People rebel group.

[citation needed] By November 2012, the town had become a stronghold of the March 23 Movement in their conflict with the Congolese government.

The First and Second Congo Wars saw substantial fighting in the district involving Ugandan, Rwandan and Congolese forces of various factions.

Since the official end of the war in 2002/3, fighting has periodically erupted between militias allied to the Hutu and Tutsi.

Rutshuru, like most of the DR Congo eastern region, is a town of collateral damage from infighting between Rwandan proxies and the government forces.