A new offensive by the Congo River Alliance/March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) has reignited large-scale hostilities in South Kivu, just days after the signing of international agreements aimed at defusing the conflict.
The renewed fighting has caused civilian casualties, destroyed infrastructure and driven hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, according to United Nations officials and humanitarian groups.
The UN and Security Council have repeatedly described the Tutsi-majority M23 militia as being backed by Rwanda – a claim Kigali has repeatedly denied.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz told the Council on Friday that after bringing Rwanda and the DRC together in Washington to sign a peace deal just last week, the government was “incredibly disappointed” by Kigali’s actions in recent days in support of the M23 rebels which it fully controls.
A crisis with “incalculable consequences”
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of UN peace operations, warned that the offensive has revived “the specter of a regional outbreak with incalculable consequences”, saying that the territorial expansion of the AFC/M23 and the weakening of the authority of the DRC government in eastern areas threaten national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said recent diplomatic breakthroughs – notably the Washington Accords signed on December 4 between the DRC and Rwanda, and the Doha Framework Agreement in November between the DRC and the AFC/M23 – had raised real hope for de-escalation.
But persistent ceasefire violations and renewed fighting now risk destroying this progress.
“The growing gap between political commitments and their effective implementation on the ground undermines the credibility of peace processes and fuels the feeling of abandonment felt by civilians,” said Mr. Lacroix.
MONUSCO soldiers on patrol near Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, eastern DR Congo.
MONUSCO, an essential lifeline
As violence escalates, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO remains a central – and increasingly strained – pillar of protecting civilians in eastern DRC, just days before the Security Council decides on the renewal of its mandate.
Mr. Lacroix told Council members that MONUSCO continues to provide direct physical protection to approximately 100,000 displaced people living near its bases, particularly in North Kivu and Ituri, through daily patrols, early warning systems and close engagement with communities.
He said the mission has adopted a more preventative posture, focusing on deterrence, rapid response and sustained presence around displacement sites where armed groups operate in close proximity.
Constrained operations
He warned, however, that MONUSCO’s capacity to fulfill its mandate is increasingly limited. AFC/M23 restrictions on freedom of movement, fuel supplies, water and electricity – as well as the continued closure of Goma airport – limit mobility, delay rotations and hinder humanitarian access.
At the same time, funding shortages and reductions in uniformed and civilian personnel, linked to the broader UN liquidity crisis, are affecting the mission’s rapid response capacity and operational reach.
Mr. Lacroix stressed MONUSCO’s role in protecting civilians and supporting de-escalation remains essential, warning that “diplomatic progress must now translate into real improvements on the ground.”
Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim of Médecins Sans Frontières briefs the Security Council on the health and humanitarian situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The health system is collapsing
The humanitarian toll is increasing. Hospitals and clinics in North and South Kivu are struggling to cope with a constant influx of injured civilians amid acute shortages of staff, medicines and equipment.
Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, emergency physician and international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said: Health systems in eastern DRC are “collapsing” under the combined impact of violence, mass displacement and diminishing humanitarian access.
“MSF teams continue to witness staggering levels of violence, displacement and deprivation,” he said. “This crisis is not going away.”
Sexual violence and epidemics
Sexual violence remains widespread and systematic, particularly affecting women and girls.
Dr Abdelmoneim said nearly 28,000 survivors sought care in MSF-supported facilities in eastern DRC in the first six months of the year alone, an average of more than 150 people per day. Many arrived too late to benefit from preventive treatment, while others were never able to receive care.
At the same time, infectious diseases spread rapidly. Cholera cases have exceeded 38,000 this year, and deaths have more than doubled from last year. Measles continues to spread and malaria epidemics develop amid limited diagnostic and treatment capacity.
DR Congo seeks solutions in good faith
The Democratic Republic of Congo condemned what it described as a new offensive by the Rwanda Defense Forces-M23 launched shortly after the signing of the Washington agreement, saying it violated its commitments and worsened an already serious humanitarian situation.
Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said Kinshasa had continued its diplomacy in good faith through processes led by the United States, Qatar and Africa, but warned that continued attacks, attacks on civilians and cross-border risks threatened regional stability.
She urged the Security Council to implement resolution 2773 (2025), strengthen MONUSCO’s mandate and impose consequences for continued violations, stressing that lasting peace requires accountability.
Rwanda alleges persecution in South Kivu
Rwanda rejected the accusations and said MONUSCO’s renewed mandate should strengthen the Washington Peace Agreement and the Doha Framework through strict impartiality and support for the implementation of the ceasefire.
Ambassador Karoli Martin Ngoga said progress depended on the political will of all parties and expressed concerns over what he described as persecution of the Banyamulenge community in South Kivu, citing displacement, killings and blockades imposed by Congolese forces and allied militias.
He called for a political solution and reaffirmed Kigali’s stated commitment to promoting lasting peace through the Washington process.
Burundi condemns the capture of Uvira
Ambassador Zéphyrin Maniratanga of Burundi condemned the capture of Uvira by M23 fighters supported by the Rwandan Defense Forces, calling it a violation of Resolution 2773 and warning of serious civilian suffering and mass displacement to his country.
He said cross-border artillery and drone strikes had hit Burundian territory, threatening sovereignty and regional stability.
He called for the full implementation of Washington’s commitments, strengthened civil protection and urgent humanitarian assistance for refugees, while reaffirming his willingness to support peace efforts and defend its territorial integrity within the framework of the United Nations Charter.
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