M23 Rebels Surge in Eastern Congo with Rwanda’s Aid, Experts Warn
Washington D.C. – Rwandan-backed M23 rebels captured Goma and Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in early 2025, escalating a 30-year conflict. The United Nations reports Rwanda’s 3,000 to 4,000 troops fuel the M23 rebels’ advance as of March 4, 2025, threatening regional stability.
Today, the crisis in eastern Congo commands attention because it risks igniting a wider war. The M23, a Tutsi-led group, seized Goma, North Kivu’s capital, and Bukavu, South Kivu’s hub, in a rapid offensive. Experts tie this surge to Rwanda’s military support, despite Kigali’s official denials. “M23 did not come back on its own; it came back because Rwanda backed it,” said Jason Stearns, a political scientist at Simon Fraser University, highlighting Rwanda’s role since the rebels’ 2021 resurgence.
The conflict traces to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when Hutu extremists killed 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Tutsi forces, led by Paul Kagame—Rwanda’s president since 2000—ended the massacre, driving Hutu perpetrators into Congo. “It all goes back to the ’90s,” a U.N. official. Noting Rwanda’s 1996 invasion sparked the First Congo War. That war toppled Congo’s dictator, yet subsequent clashes, including the Second Congo War, left eastern Congo unstable despite a 2003 peace deal.
M23 Rebels Gain Ground with Rwanda’s Support
Rwanda’s backing proves decisive, since evidence shows its troops and resources bolster M23 operations. A 2024 U.N. report confirms Rwandan soldiers fight alongside the rebels, providing advanced weapons. “If it hadn’t been for the Rwandan army, we wouldn’t be here today,” said Clémentine de Montjoye, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasizing Rwanda’s firepower and discipline. Though Rwanda claims it targets Hutu extremists like the FDLR, analysts question this justification.
The M23, named for a 2009 peace accord it says Congo ignored, re-emerged in 2021 after a 2012 Goma capture. Now, with 6,000 fighters, it holds significant territory. Then, it withdrew from Goma after 10 days, but this time, it retains control of Goma and Bukavu. Rwanda’s support, coupled with Congo’s weak army, enables this advance, as Congolese soldiers often surrender or flee.
Congo’s mineral riches drive the conflict further. Eastern provinces boast gold, cobalt, and coltan—vital for electronics. “A recent report by U.N. experts said the M23 had taken control of a mining area called Rubaya in 2024,” noted Stephanie Wolters, a Congo analyst at South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, estimating M23 earns $800,000 monthly from coltan. Rwanda exported $1.1 billion in minerals last year, mostly from Congo, fueling suspicions of economic motives.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid M23 Rebels’ Advance
The toll on civilians grows dire as fighting displaces families and destroys lives. Nearly 1 million people lived in Goma’s camps before attacks razed them. “Thousands of people have been killed,” Human Rights Watch reported, citing rapes and executions by both sides. UNICEF notes rising child-targeted violence, with M23 accused of executions.
President Felix Tshisekedi pledges resistance. “Congo’s army is ready to defend every inch of territory,” he declared in February 2025. Yet, the army’s corruption and disarray weaken his stance. “The Congolese army is a real mess,” said Vincent Rouget, an analyst at Control Risks, pointing to factionalism and defections. Meanwhile, M23 sets up administrations, issuing documents and collecting taxes in captured zones.
Regional dynamics complicate matters, since Burundi aids Congo while Uganda faces accusations of tolerating rebel movements. International responses lag. The U.S. sanctioned a Rwandan minister, and the U.K. paused aid to Kigali. “Unless you force these leaders to the table via sanctions, we’re not going to see this conflict ending,” a diplomat told Thought Smash, urging stronger action. Peace talks falter, leaving civilians trapped.
What This Means: M23 Rebels Expose Congo’s Fragility
The M23’s gains reveal Congo’s vulnerabilities and Rwanda’s influence. Rwanda’s military aid empowers the rebels, exploiting Congo’s chaotic army and rich resources. The humanitarian crisis worsens daily, with millions displaced and violence surging. International efforts stumble, unable to curb the conflict’s spread. This escalation signals a region teetering on broader chaos, rooted in decades of unresolved ethnic and economic tensions.
For more, see Thought Smash’s DRC crisis overview
