Eastern DR Congo becoming increasingly explosive

The M23 armed group, named after the March 23, 2009 peace agreement it accuses the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government of violating, is a Congolese rebel military group. Once a significant player in the DRC conflict landscape, it has undergone shifts in recent years. Emerging in 2012, composed primarily of former Congolese army soldiers, M23 aimed to challenge the government’s authority, citing grievances over political marginalization and military integration agreements.

However, following intense regional and international pressure, including sanctions and military offensives, M23 was militarily defeated in 2013, leading to its disbandment and many of its members fleeing to neighboring countries. While the group’s overt presence has diminished, concerns persist about its potential resurgence or splintering into smaller factions, exacerbating instability in the volatile eastern region of the DRC.

This rebel group, which has historical ties to Rwanda, has been involved in various cycles of conflict in the region, often justified by its claims of protecting the Tutsi minority and fighting against the DRC government’s neglect of the agreement’s provisions. The recent escalation of violence marks a concerning upturn in the group’s activities, as they have gone on the offensive, capturing territories. The situation has been exacerbated by accusations of Rwandan support for the M23, including the provision of heavy weaponry, which Rwanda denies.  

Following are some points explaining the conflict in the DRC:

Since February 7, the M23 armed group has launched an offensive near Goma, the capital of North Kivu, in the east of the DRC. It took the town of Shasha last week. It is now at the gates of Sake, a strategic town considered a lock on the road leading to the provincial capital located about 20 kilometers away. The army’s spokesperson in the region stated on February 12 that battalions and equipment had arrived in Goma for the security of the population and the reconquest of the territory. That same day, clashes were also reported in the north of the city.

Since last week, the fighting has been with artillery, says a member of an NGO on the ground, the level of M23’s equipment is very high. Displaced camps are used as a human shield, civilians are not spared, it’s extremely violent. A bomb fell in a camp at the exit of Sake, killing at least three people. Kigali accused M23 of being behind this bombing. According to the United Nations, M23 has anti-aircraft cannons. A ground-to-air missile was even fired last week from a zone controlled by M23, from a Rwandan vehicle, according to  external intelligence from France.