2025 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2025 History of the DRC

Events of the year 2025 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .

Incumbents

• President: Félix Tshisekedi
• Prime Minister: Judith Suminwa

Events

Ongoing

• M23 offensive (2022–present)
  • 2025 Goma offensive
• Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda tensions (2022–present)
• 2025 Kinshasa riots

January

• 5 January – M23 rebels seize the town of Masisi, North Kivu. ^[1]
• 9 January – The government bans Al Jazeera from operating in the country after the network airs an interview with M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa the previous day. ^[2]
• 15 January – At least ten people are killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces on the village of Makoko in Lubero Territory, North Kivu. ^[3]
• 21 January – M23 rebels seize the towns of Minova, Lumbishi, Numbi and Shanje in South Kivu, as well as Bweremana in North Kivu. ^[4]
• 23 January – Major General Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu, is killed in action during clashes with M23. ^[5]
• 25 January – The DRC cuts diplomatic relations with Rwanda and orders its diplomatic personnel to leave the country amid accusations by Kinshasa of Rwandan support for the M23 offensive. ^[6]
• 27 January – 2025 Goma offensive : M23 claims that it had taken Goma, the capital of North Kivu. ^[7]
• 28 January – 2025 Kinshasa riots : The French embassy in Kinshasa is set on fire by protesters demonstrating against the conflict in the eastern DRC. The Rwandan, French, Belgian and US embassies are also attacked. ^[8]
• 29 January – M23 launches an offensive into South Kivu, taking the districts of Kanyezire and Mukwija. ^[9]

February

• 4 February – A humanitarian ceasefire is declared by the antigovernment Congo River Alliance, which includes M23. ^[10]
• 5 February – M23 seizes the city of Nyabibwe in South Kivu despite declaring a ceasefire. ^[11]
• 10 February – At least 55 people are killed in an attack by CODECO militants in the Djaiba area of Ituri. ^[12]
• 12 February – Kasanga massacre : The Allied Democratic Forces kill 70 Christians inside a church in Lubero Territory. ^[13]
• 14 February – 2025 Bukavu offensive : M23 claims to have seized Kavumu Airport ^[14] and are confirmed to have entered Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. ^[15]
• 17 February – The Ugandan military enters Bunia, the capital of Ituri, to augment the Congolese military. ^[16]
• 19 February – A boat carrying refugees from the M23 offensive capsizes in Lake Edward, killing 22 passengers. ^[17]
• 20 February – The United States imposes sanctions on Rwandan minister for regional integration James Kabarebe and M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston for their roles in the M23 offensive. ^[18]
• 24 February – At least 53 people are reported to have died in an outbreak of an unidentified disease that began on 21 January in Boloko, with 419 cases recorded. ^[19]
• 27 February – Eleven people are killed following explosions at an M23 rally in Bukavu. ^[20]

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Source: ^[21]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 4 January – Martyrs' Day
• 16 January – Laurent-Désiré Kabila Assassination
• 17 January – Patrice Lumumba Assassination
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 17 May – Liberation Day
• 30 June – Independence Day
• 1 August – Parents' Day
• 17 November – Army Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day

References

1. "Rwanda-backed rebels seize key town in DR Congo". BBC. 5 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
2. "Congo bans Al Jazeera over its interview with a key rebel leader and threatens journalists". AP News. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
3. "Islamic State-linked rebels kill at least 10 people in eastern Congo". AP News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
4. "M23 rebels in eastern Congo seize a town on a key supply route to the provincial capital". AP News. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
5. "Military governor of DRC's North Kivu province killed in M23 rebel assault". Al Jazeera. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
6. "Congo severs ties with Rwanda as rebels close in on Goma, displacing thousands". AP News. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
7. "Rebels say they have taken key DR Congo city". BBC. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
8. "French FM condemns 'unacceptable' attack on embassy in DR Congo". France 24. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
9. "Rwanda-backed M23 Fighters Advance Into DR Congo's South Kivu: Local Sources". Barron's. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
10. "Rebels declare ceasefire in DR Congo for 'humanitarian reasons'". BBC. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
11. "Rwandan-backed rebels have seized another city in eastern Congo". AP News. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
12. "At least 55 civilians killed by militia fighters in northeastern Congo". Africanews. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
13. "70 Christians murdered in DRC". Open Doors. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
14. "Rwanda-backed rebels claim to have seized a second airport in east Congo". AP News. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
15. "DR Congo M23 rebels enter city of Bukavu". BBC. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
16. "Ugandan forces enter eastern Congolese city of Bunia to back up local troops". AP News. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
17. "Boat fleeing rebel offensive capsizes in Congo, killing 22". AP News. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
18. "The US sanctions a Rwanda official and a rebel spokesperson over violence in eastern Congo". AP News. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
19. "An unknown illness kills over 50 people in part of Congo with hours between symptoms and death". AP News. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
20. "At least 11 dead and 65 injured in Congo after blasts at M23 rebel leaders' rally, rebels say". AP News. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
21. "DRC Public Holidays 2025". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 2 November 2024.

External links

• Online calendar