In a defiant statement, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame declared that his country is prepared for “confrontation,” responding firmly to international criticism over its backing of M23 rebels advancing in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). M23 forces, with alleged support from Rwandan troops, captured the strategically important city of Goma earlier this week and are now pushing southward towards Bukavu, marking the largest escalation in the region’s long-standing conflict since 2012.
The escalating violence, which has sparked widespread concern, follows a series of interventions by Rwanda in the DRC over the past three decades, including direct military involvement and support for allied militias. Despite mounting international backlash, including aid suspensions from Germany and threats of financial sanctions from the UK, the situation remains tense on the ground.
After taking Goma, M23 rebels advanced from Minova, a town on the western shore of Lake Kivu, in a southward push toward Bukavu. Clashes broke out around Nyabibwe, approximately 50 kilometers from Bukavu, though Congolese forces managed to repel the rebels. By Thursday morning, fighting was reported in Kahalala, just 20 kilometers from Nyabibwe, with the Congolese military said to be mounting strong resistance.
In Kinshasa, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived to meet with President Felix Tshisekedi, in a bid to address the growing crisis. The visit follows intense protests in Kinshasa, where demonstrators targeted foreign diplomatic missions, including the French embassy, accusing them of supporting Rwanda in its military actions in the DRC.
The ongoing conflict risks further destabilizing the region. If M23 rebels continue their advance, they would take control of key areas not seen in rebel hands since the end of two major wars that ravaged the region between 1996 and 2003. Neighboring Burundi, which has had strained relations with Rwanda, has sent troops to support the Congolese forces in South Kivu. However, Burundi’s military has declined to comment on the current developments.
Meanwhile, in Goma, M23 forces have reportedly taken full control, with plans to administer the city and solidify their hold over the area. The border with Rwanda has been re-opened under M23 supervision, further solidifying their presence in the region.
Kagame, in a strong retort to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent remarks, accused South African forces of collaborating with militias tied to the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Ramaphosa had previously suggested that the violence in the region had escalated due to the actions of M23 and Rwandan forces. Kagame responded by stating that if South Africa chose confrontation, Rwanda was ready to deal with it directly.
Rwanda has also rejected calls for restraint from Western nations, accusing them of turning a blind eye to the role Congo played in the mass killings of Tutsis during the genocide. Rwanda claims that Congo is harboring Hutu-led militias that pose a direct threat to its security. Meanwhile, Congo denies these accusations, maintaining that Rwanda’s real motivation for intervening is to control the region’s rich mineral resources, a claim supported by U.N. reports of looted Congolese minerals being smuggled through Rwanda.
The M23 rebellion, led by ethnic Tutsis and backed by Rwanda, is the latest chapter in a series of insurgencies in eastern Congo that began in the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Since the genocide, millions of Hutus, including both refugees and perpetrators, fled into eastern Congo, leading to accusations by Rwanda that Congo has been sheltering Hutu militias that continue to target Tutsis.
In an effort to mediate the situation, the East African Community (EAC) held a virtual summit on Wednesday, largely aligning with Rwanda’s position. The summit called for direct talks between Congo and armed groups as a means to resolve the crisis. However, Congo has rejected direct negotiations with M23, considering them a terrorist organization. The EAC also suggested a joint summit with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which could add further diplomatic weight to ongoing efforts.
As regional tensions rise, Angola, which has played a key role in peace efforts, has called for Rwanda to withdraw its forces from eastern Congo. This appeal follows a meeting between Tshisekedi and Angolan leaders in Luanda, underscoring the complex diplomatic dynamics surrounding the ongoing conflict.
The situation in the DRC remains fluid, with the potential for further regional escalation if a resolution is not reached.