M23 has made some key gains in recent weeks, seizing control of the eastern Congolese city of Goma. Despite unilaterally declaring a ceasefire on 4 February, the rebel group went on to violate this by capturing the town of Nyabibwe – apparently with its sights set on Bukavu, another regional capital in DRC’s east.
While the militia claims its mission is to defend the marginalised Tutsi community, its actions strongly suggest other motives are play – as its trail of atrocities, focus on lucrative mines and all-but-undeniable assistance from neighbouring Rwanda attest.
Our man William Sakawa digs deeper.
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/congo-ceasefire-m23-nyabibwe-1.7451523
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/4/rwandan-backed-m23-rebels-declare-ceasefire-in-drc
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-63899461
https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Resurgence-of-the-M23-EN.pdf
https://www.hrw.org/report/2005/06/01/curse-gold
https://archive.ph/HA8kK
https://www.hrw.org/report/2005/06/01/curse-gold
https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/14013/Tshisekedi-calls-out-Kagame-on-the-M23-militia