M23 in DRC: What is happening?

Introduction:

The violent group M23 is at the heart of the instability in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the Kivu region (far East of the DRC), this rebel group took multiple great cities such as Goma, Bukavu and Uvira over the past year, and is now controlling the zone, establishing a parallel administration. M23 is backed by the Rwandan government, in what Kinshasa (Capital of DRC) accuses to be a will to pillage the natural resources of the region. On the other side, Kigali (capital of Rwanda) refuted these allegations and denounced hostile troops on the DRC side.

M23 traces its origins to 23 March 2009 — date from which the group took its name — following a peace agreement concluded between Tutsi rebels and Kinshasa. Nevertheless, in 2012, a mutiny committed by former Tutsi rebels, set the violences back, alleging that the agreements were not respected by the DRC. In 2013, a peace treaty was signed between the two parts but did not put an end to the hostilities. It is in 2021 that M23 took control over important parts of the Northern Kivu region, provoking another crisis between Kinshasa and Kigali. 

Why is M23 so important?

The group is directly supported by Rwandan authorities, though Kigali always refuted all military assistance. Nevertheless, multiple observers state that M23 is the “creature” of Rwanda. The rich natural resources of the Kivu region further entrench the conflict in a strategic fight over minerals such as gold and coltan. In 2025, global witness discovered that Kigali sold minerals that were mainly coming from the region affected by the conflict. It seems therefore that the transfer of such resources from the group to Rwanda enables to secure a flow of income for M23. In parallel, these flows match a growing trend in Rwandan’s revenues regarding minerals, which placed the country among the biggest exporters in the world. Therefore, this conflict can be characterised as a proxy war — which is defined as a conflict in which a third party intervenes indirectly in order to influence the strategic outcome — since Rwanda uses the group to obtain advantages. 

Behind ethnic tensions in the region, the group’s importance is marked by its capability to sustain itself with the support of Kigali, catalysing the tensions of the region between Rwanda and DRC, and fragilizing security and stability. Its use as a proxy furthermore undermines peaceful relations between the DRC and Rwanda. Above all, the number of internally displaced people is alarming, rising at almost 7 million at the beginning of 2025, further undermining the stability of the region and raising health issues. 

How is the situation evolving?

In December 2025, both Rwanda and the DRC signed in Washington a peace agreement meant to stop the conflict and reinforce cooperation in the region. Some minor clashes have been reported in the region, but the overall situation seems more peaceful, as M23 was pressured to get out of Uvira’s city. Nevertheless, the group announced that it will not leave the zones under its control in the East, and Kigali confirmed that it was collaborating with the group regarding security, which could aggravate the situation in the region as well as the relations between the two countries. 

In the meantime, the US political investment in the mediation of the conflict does not seem to be devoid of interests. Indeed, the pressure upon the M23 and Rwanda in support of the DRC could be seen as a way to access the rich natural resources of the country. In its regional cooperation component, the peace agreements plan the development of major infrastructures in the region which would facilitate the transit of natural resources. Following the peace agreement, the USA and DRC signed a strategic partnership meant to further reinforce exportations of minerals to Washington. 

Conclusion:

Finally, M23 is less an isolated group than the result of serious failures in Eastern DRC: a weak and fragmented state, unresolved ethnic issues regarding Tutsi populations and a regional competition over natural resources. In this context, diplomatic and military solutions seem to be blocked, as long as the roots of the tensions won’t be addressed. 

The recent support from Washington and the offer of a bargain between security and access to natural resources could further undermine the stability in the region. While addressing the immediate tensions between M23 and DRC, such deals could reinforce the dependence over external powers, entrenching the conflict in a fight for influence over DRC’s natural resources. 

In closing, the future of the stability of the region is uncertain and will depend on the success of the American intervention or on the will for DRC and Rwanda to ease the tensions between them.