Rwandan-backed terrorist group, M23, joined by Rwandan army soldiers, began a military offensive in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on Jan. 23, attacking towns and villages near the province capital of Goma. By Jan. 25, just two days later, Goma was under siege by M23, facing a bitter urban assault and “devastation” (United Nations). Within hours of fighting beginning in the city, access to the internet, power and the rest of the country was cut off. By Jan. 27, Goma fell to the rebels.
The war in the eastern DRC is now the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, with six million displaced by the war, and countless others facing starvation, homelessness, crime and death. The war’s origins run deep, stemming from conflict between Tutsis and Hutus, two ethnic groups in central Africa that were first pitted against each other by colonial Belgians. A particularly painful example of this conflict is the 1994 Rwandan genocide, where Hutu extremists murdered nearly a million Tutsis in Rwanda. M23, a Tutsi-extremist group, acts against the DRC on the basis that the Congo oppresses and victimizes Tutsis. Making millions of dollars off forced-labor mining operations, M23, linked with Rwanda, has recently gained enough military strength to rival that of the DRC’s, spurring their recent offensive. Rwanda’s involvement in the war also stems from Tutsi V. Hutu ethnic conflict, as well as their desire for a stake in the mineral rich eastern DRC (Reuters).
Military intelligence sources from The Guardian, as well as satellite imagery of a military cemetery in Rwanda’s capital, have found that hundreds of Rwandan forces have been killed in the fighting. The Rwandan government is neither confirming nor denying any involvement with M23 or the war, but has stated it is “acting in self defense” (Al Jazeera). Outside of unknown Rwandan figures, the DRC’s Army, their hired mercenaries, UN Peacekeepers, M23 militants and most tragically, civilians, are now facing a count of up to 3,000 dead, excluding untold numbers of wounded according to UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.
Turk has also stated his UN team is “Currently investigating multiple allegations of rape, gang rape and sexual slavery.” As of Feb. 16, 6 million civilians have been displaced fleeing the war, spawning a humanitarian crisis that has taken UN aid priority (Al Jazeera). This priority has been scorned by M23, however, as they are preventing any humanitarian aid from entering the region.
Civilians in North and South Kivu, the main provinces under M23 assault, face full hospitals, a lack of food, water, medicine, shelter and the threat of wanton violence, particularly in Goma and rural areas. Since the war’s beginning, M23 has been found ethnically cleansing, murdering and sexually violating civilians in their warpath, often ethnic Hutus. Disturbingly, per CNN and other news sources, M23 militants also orchestrated a mass jailbreak in Goma’s largest prison, freeing hundreds of male prisoners while sexually abusing and murdering hundreds of female prisoners before lighting the building on fire. Violence of a similar despicable caliber has been reported throughout M23 captured territory.
After M23 declared a ceasefire lasting from Feb. 3 to Feb. 11, fighting resumed in South Kivu, with M23 capturing Kavumu, the province’s largest airport and last stronghold of military resistance on Feb. 15. The same day, M23 forces entered and captured at least half of Bukavu, the province capital and second most populated city in the Eastern Congo. Rebels faced no resistance in their advance nor within the city, and South Kivu’s governor Jean-Jacques Perusi said DRC armed forces have completely withdrawn from the city to “avoid urban fighting.” Meanwhile, M23’s senior commander in Bukavu is reporting to citizens that DRC forces have “fled” and abandoned the city (Al Jazeera). By Feb. 16, the city was entirely under M23 control. As per Al Jazeera and sources on the ground, the largely bloodless capture was met with an exodus of civilians fleeing, while some who stayed cheered M23’s advance, and others hid in their homes.
On the same night that the rebels declared complete control of the city, M23 raided Bukavu’s central prison and released more than 1,000 prisoners into the city’s streets without supervision or jurisdiction. The Congolese government has denounced M23 and Rwanda specifically in response to their actions, releasing a statement on Feb. 16 stating, “Rwanda is stubbornly pursuing its plan to occupy, pillage and commit crimes and serious human rights violations on our soil.”
The African Union, joined by the UN, held a summit from Feb. 15-16 to discuss solutions to end the war, render humanitarian aid to the civilian population and denounce Rwanda. Taking charge in the discussions, the United Kingdom has urged for a peaceful solution and total Rwandan withdrawal from the Congo stating, “The U.K. calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of all Rwandan Defense Forces, and a return to dialogue through African-led peace processes. There can be no military solution” (Gov.UK).
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/what-is-happening-congo-why-are-m23-rebels-fighting-2025-01-29/
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/12/africa/fighting-drc-congo-minerals-phone-intl/index.html
