The DRC's Struggle for Survival

March 3rd, 2025

Dhruv Arun

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The M23 rebels have seemed to make significant territorial gains since the start of february, and this is because they have captured significant areas like Goma (the capital of North Kivu province), and started advancing further into other cities in the DRC like Bukavu (the capital of South Kivu province). Once the M23 rebels landed in Bukavu, they marched to the governor’s office, and Bernard Byamungu (a leader of the group) stood in front of the office and promised to change the status quo. Specifically, he said “We are going to clean up the disorder left over from the old regime.” The Congolese government, confirming that the Rwanda-backed militia launched an attack, seemed to be standing idly by because the militia faced little resistance in its latest march. The fighting this year has also worsened the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. It has destroyed 70,000 emergency shelters around Goma and Minova, leaving about 350,000 internally displaced people without protection. The conflict in the DRC has sparked Burundi’s (neighboring country) biggest influx of refugees in 25 years, as roughly 30,000 people crossed the border to escape the rebels’ advance. Brigitte Mukanga-Eno (UNHCR representative in Burundi) stated in a press briefing in Geneva on wednesday that “People are still pouring in by the thousands every day”, and Over 1 million people have been displaced over the years, with hundreds of thousands camping in dire conditions on the outskirts of Goma. The city’s fall represents an unprecedented expansion of territory for the M23 rebels, but it also represents worsening conditions for every congolese citizen.

The United Nations, including Security Council members such as the U.S, France, and the United Kingdom, agree that Rwandan forces are operating in Congo. Rwanda's government, however, has never publicly admitted to being involved. The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Rwandan Minister James Kabarebe, accusing him of being central to Rwanda's support for the M23 armed group. Rwanda has accused the DRC of sheltering the FDLR (an armed group created by Hutus who took part in the massacre of Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide), and the DRC government accuses Rwanda of “expansionist ambitions” and says it’s stealing vast amounts of minerals sides. Rwanda denies these allegations, while the DRC government insists that Rwanda is using the situation for financial gain. These disputes between both Rwanda and the DRC show that these conflicts are more about control over resources and regional power dynamics, as both sides reiterate that they’re in the right. The DRC government has repeatedly called for international sanctions against Rwanda for backing the M23. AU's peace and security commissioner Bankole Adeo said that “We are all very, very concerned about an open regional war.” The involvement of Rwandan and Burundian troops on the ground has already raised concerns. As the M23 continues to expand its control in South Kivu, fears grow that the conflict could extend beyond the DRC, potentially drawing neighboring countries into a broader regional conflict. The escalation of violence, coupled with foreign military involvement, shows the fragility of the region and the risk of a much larger war that could have devastating consequences for Central Africa.