Democratic Republic of the Congo

Speaking before world leaders, Tshisekedi made an urgent appeal for international recognition of the crisis and demanded concrete action. “The withdrawal of Rwandan troops, the end of their support to the M23, and the restoration of the authority of the Congolese State over all the occupied areas constitute non-negotiable conditions for a lasting peace,” he declared. 

The capture of Goma and Bukavu early this year by the March 23 Movement (M23)/Alliance Fleuve Congo has drawn sustained national, regional and international attention. It has strained the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) already weak national army, creating a security vacuum that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) has exploited to expand its operations.  

Congo's army and Rwandan-backed rebels are reinforcing military positions and blaming each other for flouting peace accords in an escalation that experts say risks reigniting the simmering conflict, which U.S. President Donald Trump claims to have ended. 

Most of the victims were hacked with machetes in the night-time assault by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) on a village in North Kivu province, officials added.  This is the latest in a string of attacks linked to the ADF, raising fears that its insurgency is growing in strength. 

The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to pursue the peace process under Qatari mediation, despite ongoing differences with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 armed group have resumed negotiations in Qatar as violence deepens in the country’s mineral-rich eastern provinces in spite of a recently signed an agreement to reach a full peace deal.

Despite diplomatic progress in recent months, with the United States brokering a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, and Qatar facilitating a Declaration of Principles between the Congolese Government and M23 rebels, tensions remain high in the eastern DRC – where multiple armed groups operate.  

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels were meant to finalise a peace agreement by August 18, according to an earlier commitment signed in July. Though the two parties have missed the deadline, Qatar, who is mediating the talks, said they are committed to continuing the process.

UN deplores deadly attacks in the east of the country

The UN has strongly condemned recent attacks carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group in several locations in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). … MONUSCO issued a statement calling for foreign armed groups, such as the ADF, to lay down their arms unconditionally and return to their countries of origin.  … In response to this new wave of violence, the peacekeeping mission reinforced its military presence and support to Congolese authorities.

Violent combat has broken out between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo despite a peace treaty, security and local sources told AFP on Monday.

Kinshasa and the M23 signed a declaration of principles on July 19, in which they committed to a permanent ceasefire, following the signing of a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda in late June.