Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda conflict

Last updated

Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda conflict
Part of the Kivu conflict
DR Congo-Rwanda bilateral map.png
The DRC (green) and Rwanda (orange)
DateMarch 27, 2022 – present
(2 years, 10 months and 3 weeks)
Location
Central Africa
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
 Rwanda Defense Force emblem.png Rwanda Defence Force [6]
Strength
Casualties and losses
For details of casualties, see:
M23 offensive, 2025 Goma offensive and 2025 Bukavu offensive

A conflict began between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda in 2022 after Rwandan forces entered the country to provide military support to the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, including fighting alongside them against the Congolese military (FARDC) and pro-government militias.

Contents

The crisis is related to an ongoing offensive that began in March 2022 by the M23 Movement, which the DRC, United Nations, United States, and other Western countries accuse Rwanda of not only supporting but actively fighting for. [11] [12] [3] Rwanda and M23 [13] have also accused the DRC of working together with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an ethnic Hutu paramilitary group that took part in the Rwandan Genocide. [14] Both the Congo and Rwanda deny they support the FDLR and M23, respectively, [11] [15] contrary to research and reports that confirm both sides' allegations. [16] [17] [18] Burundi, which has accused Rwanda of orchestrating a 2015 coup attempt, deployed troops to assist the DRC against the M23 offensive. [8]

The MONUSCO peacekeeping mission has maintained that it is not involved in the conflict apart from its role in defending the region from militants, [19] but has been accused by Rwanda of taking sides due to its cooperation with the Congolese armed forces. [20] Meanwhile, the Congolese government has asked MONUSCO peacekeepers to leave the DRC due to a "failure to protect civilians from armed groups." [21]

There were two efforts at peace negotiations organized between the DRC and Rwanda: one hosted by Kenya in 2022, which failed, and another hosted by Angola in 2024, the latter leading to a ceasefire agreement in August 2024. [22] Fighting between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels resumed in October 2024 after having slowed down, and intensified towards the end of the year. Planned negotiations between Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi in December were cancelled over disagreements about preconditions. [23]

During January 2025, the rebels carried out a successful offensive on Goma, the capital of the DRC's North Kivu province, displacing over 400,000 people and causing the DRC to cut off its diplomatic ties with Rwanda. The Congolese government called Rwandan military support for the rebels a "declaration of war." [24] [25] [26] [27] The fall of Goma after several days of fighting in late January has been the largest escalation of the Kivu conflict since M23 first occupied the city in 2012. [28]

Background

When the Rwandan Civil War ended in 1994 as a victory for the Rwandan Patriotic Front, a Tutsi-led army founded by Rwandan exiles in Uganda with the support of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the Hutu extremists that perpetrated the genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda fled across the border of neighboring Zaire. [29] These elements, consisting of the former Rwandan armed forces and the Interahamwe paramilitary group, entered the Kivu region in eastern Zaire along with 1.5 million Hutu civilian refugees from Rwanda. [29] [30] There the Hutu militants established militia groups to wage an insurgency against the new RPF-led government. [29] [30] Zaire, led by the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko, had been undergoing economic and political decline, and its weak state institutions were not capable of maintaining order in the vast country. [31] There is also evidence that the state provided support to the Hutu militias. [32]

Also present were the Banyamulenge, a community of ethnic Tutsis from Rwanda that represented a minority in the South Kivu province of Zaire and had been discriminated against. [33] During late 1995 and early 1996, large-scale fighting broke out involving the Hutu refugees, the Banyamulenge, the rest of the population in Kivu, and the Zairian military. [34] The Banyamulenge took up arms during the summer of 1996 [35] and Rwanda started providing training and other support. Its military became involved in border clashes with Zairian troops. [36] These events, beginning the First Congo War, have been described as "to a large degree an extension of the Rwandan civil war," [37] due to the close relations that developed between the Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsis involved in the rebellion with the Rwandan government. [38] General Paul Kagame stated in a media interview in July 1997 that Rwanda planned and directed the Banyamulenge rebellion in eastern Zaire and that its troops had participated in the capture of multiple cities. [39]

The Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL) was founded by a leading member of Mobutu's political opposition, Laurent-Désiré Kabila, in October 1996. [40] The AFDL recruited fighters in Zaire and consisted of both Tutsi and non-Tutsi members. [41] It advanced from the east in a campaign to overthrow Mobutu and take the capital Kinshasa between February and May 1997. [42] The Zairian military put up minimal resistance, [43] and the AFDL received support from multiple other African countries. [44] In May 1997 the AFDL entered Kinshasa without any fighting as the Mobutu regime fell. [45] Kabila became president and restored the country's original name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [46] However, he continued Mobutu's authoritarian practices, filled the government largely with AFDL members, and did not hold elections. [46] [47] Kabila, who portrayed himself as a Congolese nationalist, had a falling out with Rwanda soon after. Efforts by Kabila to limit Rwandan influence over his government contributed to the beginning of the Second Congo War. [48] The nationality status of the Banyamulenge was not resolved and Hutu militias continued to be active along Rwanda's border in the Kivu region. [49]

Timeline

2022

March 2022

Soon after the beginning of the offensive, the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed that Rwanda supported the insurgent operation, a claim which was denied by the Rwandan government and the rebels. [2] [50] International Crisis Group researcher Onesphore Sematumba argued that claims about Rwandan aid were believable. He suggested that the resurgence of M23 was probably influenced by Rwanda's wish to stop an infrastructure project which would link the DR Congo and Uganda. [50]

May 2022

Congolese forces said that they had captured two Rwandan soldiers that had been sent into the DRC in disguise in May. Both were released on 11 June. [51] On 23 May, FARDC troops reportedly shelled Musanze District, in the Northern Province of Rwanda, injuring several people. [52] [53] Two days later, the DRC ordered the suspension of all RwandAir flights. [54] Rwanda condemned the action, [55] and RwandAir decided to retaliate by cancelling flights to Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, and Goma. [54]

In response to these conflicts, African Union Chairman and President of Senegal Macky Sall said on 29 May that the African Union was supporting a "peaceful resolution" to the tensions. [56]

June 2022

Mediation attempts continued into the following month; on 2 June, Angolan President João Lourenço attempted to mediate a resolution between the two countries in Luanda. [57] On 8 June, Alexander De Croo, the Prime Minister of Belgium, compared the situation in the eastern DRC to that of Ukraine in a visit to Kinshasa, additionally making comments implying his support for the Congo in its border crisis with Rwanda. [58]

On 9 June, the DRC said it had discovered that 500 Rwandan special forces in disguise had been sent into the area near the town of Tshanzu in North Kivu. [14] [59] The day afterwards, the DRC accused Rwanda of firing rockets at a school in Biruma, [60] killing two children and seriously injuring another person of unspecified age. Rwanda also said that the Congo had fired rockets into Western Rwanda from the direction of Bunagana. [61] [62]

The UN called for a ceasefire between the two countries, [63] but on 12 June, the DRC alleged that Rwanda intended to occupy the city of Bunagana, [11] which M23 forces would then capture one day later. The arrival of the M23 forced about 30,000 people to flee to Uganda. The DRC claimed that Rwandan forces were helping to occupy the city. The rebels claimed that taking Bunagana wasn't their goal, but decided to do it after repeated attacks by the Congolese army. They also said that they were open to doing direct negotiations with the government. [64] The DRC described the fall of Bunagana as "no less than an invasion" by Rwanda. [20] Two senior Congolese security sources claimed that Uganda was also helping the M23 in their offensive. [64] That same day, Rwanda charged the MONUSCO mission of taking sides in the conflict, which it said was allowing the Congo to carry out cross-border attacks in Rwanda. [20]

The heavy fighting also caused about 137 Congolese soldiers and 37 police officers to flee into Uganda, where they surrendered to Ugandan forces. [65] [66] A Kinyarwanda-speaking lieutenant colonel was attacked and beaten by a mob in Kisangani. [67] [68]

On 15 June, thousands of demonstrators organized a protest against Rwandan actions in Goma. The protest quickly turned into an anti-Rwandan riot, as an angry mob pillaged and attacked shops owned by Rwandans, seizing vehicles to check if Rwandans were inside. [69] [70] Congolese riot police fired tear gas at protesters after some tried to enter a border checkpoint at the Rwandan border. [70] Several Rwandans in Goma responded by fleeing the country. [71] On the same day, the DRC suspended all "memoranda of understanding, agreements, and conventions concluded with Rwanda", demanding the withdrawal of all alleged Rwandan military personnel within the boundaries of the country. [72]

Just a few hours after Congolese security officials called for the DRC to cut all ties with Rwanda, a Congolese soldier crossed into Rubavu District carrying an AK-47 [73] and was shot to death by a Rwanda National Police officer on 17 June. The RDF said that the soldier was killed after he started shooting at civilians and security forces, and had injured two officers. [74] [75] The Congo shut down the two countries' border in response to the officer's death, adding that it would open an investigation into the events. [76] As a vehicle brought back the officer's body to Goma, a crowd made up of hundreds of people followed the vehicle shouting "hero, hero" and describing President of Rwanda Paul Kagame as an assassin. [77] [78] Some members of the crowd were documented yelling hateful slogans against Tutsis. [78]

July 2022

Representatives of Rwanda and the DRC both came to an agreement held in Angola on 6 July to begin a "de-escalation process" between the two nations. [79] M23 leader Willy Ngoma ordered a new offensive the next day, asserting that "Only the M23 can sign the cease-fire with the government." [80]

August 2022

In early August, a report for the United Nations by independent experts was leaked to the press. The report provided evidence that Rwandan troops had entered Congolese territory to support M23, fighting alongside the insurgents. These findings led to calls by journalists and officials in the DRC for the UN to sanction Rwanda. [81] [82]

October 2022

On 24 October, a Rwandan soldier running away from the Rwandan military's 401st battalion surrendered himself to a MONUSCO base in Kiwanja, saying that he had been sent to Rwanda as part of a military operation and begged the UN troops not to send him back to Rwanda. He was handed over to FARDC forces on 4 November. [16]

The Kivu Security Barometre, a project of the New York University's Congo Research Group, found that satellite photos showing a battle from late October 2022 in Rugari, Rutshuru Territory revealed soldiers with insignias similar to those of the Rwandan Defence Force. [16]

November 2022

On 19 November, a Congolese soldier was shot dead as he crossed a border post near Rubavu. The Rwanda Defence Force said that he had been killed after shooting at the guard towers. The FARDC confirmed that the soldier had been killed, identifying him as a recent recruit to the armed forces who went missing after he had gotten lost during an army patrol. The DRC and Rwanda both say they are investigating the incident. [83] [84]

At the 2022 Francophonie summit in Tunis, the DRC representative Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde refused to take part in a group photo with other Francophone leaders (including the Rwandan representative) as a protest against Rwanda's actions in the Congo. [83]

The East African Community demanded, on 24 November, for both a ceasefire between Rwanda and the DRC as well as ordering the M23 movement to withdraw from all occupied territories. The EAC stated it would lead a military intervention to quell the unrest in Kivu if the orders were not obeyed. [85] At a summit in Luanda, Angola, both Rwanda and the DRC agreed to hold a ceasefire which was officially enforced on 25 November at 16:00 GMT. [86]

The M23 rejected the ceasefire, since they had not been invited to participate in the dialogue. A spokesman for the rebel group told Agence France-Presse that "M23 has seen the document on social media. […] There was nobody [from the M23] in the summit, so it doesn't really concern us... Normally when there is a cease-fire it is between the two warring sides." [87]

December 2022

On 5 December, the DRC announced that 272 civilians were killed in a massacre in the eastern town of Kishishe, North Kivu. The Congolese government blamed the killings on the M23, though M23 themselves denied culpability. An investigation was opened by Jean-Paul Mukolo, attorney general of the DRC. [88]

2023

January 2023

On 19 January 2023, The Rwandan government claimed that the DRC had a "clear indication" that it was "preparing for war." Rwanda also claimed that the DRC had imported European mercenaries on their behalf. [89] Five days later, on 24 January, a Congolese Su-25 was damaged by MANPAD fire by Rwandan forces after Rwanda claimed it violated its airspace. [90] The attack, which happened between the cities of Gisenyi and Goma, was responded to with a statement that said, "The government considers this umpteenth attack by Rwanda as a deliberate action." It was also said that the plane suffered only minor damage. [91]

July 2023

The DRC claimed on 27 July that it had repelled an incursion by the Rwandan army north of Goma. According to local sources, a Rwandan soldier was killed in the clash. [92]

October 2023

On 18 October, the UN expressed concern about the risk of a direct war between both countries. [93]

November 2023

On November 6, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to de-escalate the conflict after a surge of rebel clashes in Kinshasa. [94] [95] On 21 November, the two leaders agreed on steps to deescalate the tensions between both countries, according to U.S. intelligence. [96] The following day, M23 rebels claimed that they captured the town of Mweso. [97]

December 2023

In a speech made on 9 December, Tshisekedi said, "if Kagame [wants] to behave like Adolf Hitler by having expansionist aims, I promise he will end up like Adolf Hitler". A Rwandan government spokesperson condemned this statement, accusing Tshisekedi of making "a loud and clear threat". [98]

On 20 December, Tshisekedi threatened an invasion of Rwanda, stating "I've had enough of invasions and M23 rebels backed by Kigali," being met with chants of "Kagame out!" [99]

2024

January 2024

In the first incident of the year, a Congolese soldier was killed by Rwandan forces on January 16 in Rwanda's Rubavu District. The soldier allegedly opened fire on Rwandan soldiers before being shot dead. Two other Congolese soldiers were arrested in the same event. [100]

Félix Tshisekedi was sworn into his second term as president having promised to deal with the unrest in the east of the country. [101]

February 2024

On 17 February, the U.S. Department of State published a statement condemning Rwanda's alleged support of M23, while calling for the Rwandan government to remove all RDF personnel and surface-to-air missile systems from the DRC. [102] The Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINAFFET) responded with a rejection of U.S. demands, stating their recent moves were justified as defensive measures against the FDLR, and questioned the ability of the U.S. to act as a credible mediator in the African Great Lakes. The Rwandan statement ended with an assertion that the FDLR must be demobilized and repatriated to Rwanda, with MINAFFET furthermore proclaiming, "Rwanda reserves the right to take any legitimate measures to defend our country, so long as this threat exists." [103]

The DRC accused Rwanda of carrying out a drone attack that damaged a civilian aircraft at Goma International Airport. [104] Protests were held in the city and western flags were burned. [105]

March 2024

M23 rebels took control of the town of Nyanzale. [106]

May 2024

On May 4, refugee camps near Goma were struck by bombs in coordinated attacks that killed 12 and injured at least 20. Both the Congolese administration and the U.S. Department of State blamed the Rwandan military and M23 for the attack. Yolande Makolo, spokeswoman for the Rwandan government, denied Rwandan culpability, saying on X, “The RDF, a professional army, would never attack an IDP camp. Look to the lawless FDLR [and] Wazalendo supported by the FARDC, for this kind of atrocity.” [107]

August 2024

On August 30, 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo committed to suing Rwanda before the East African Court of Justice. [108]

December 2024

A summit meeting was supposed to occur in December between Tshisekedi and Kagame, but it was cancelled because Rwanda insisted that the DRC also needs to negotiate with the M23 rebel leadership directly, while the DRC considers the M23 to only exist because of Rwandan backing. The Congolese government stated that "If Kigali is in good faith in the negotiations and on its promise to withdraw ... its troops from Congolese soil, the conflict will end with the M23, and at the same time it will stop with Rwanda." [23]

2025

M23 offensive map in North Kivu M23 Offensive Map.svg
M23 offensive map in North Kivu

January 2025

A rebel advance towards the city of Goma, the North Kivu provincial capital, during January 2025 displaced over 178,000 people. The town of Minova in South Kivu, a key point on the supply route to Goma, was captured on 21 January by M23. [24] [25] The Congolese government accused a Rwandan sniper of killing North Kivu's military governor. [109]

As the rebels approached the city, on 25 January the DRC ended diplomatic relations with Rwanda, recalling its embassy staff from the country and ordering the Rwandan embassy in Kinshasa to end its operations. A spokesman for the Congolese military claimed that "Rwanda is determined to seize the city of Goma." [110] [111] [112] The UN estimates that 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are in the DRC assisting the rebel group, and the Rwandan military command set up a headquarters one mile away from the Congolese border, although Rwanda denies involvement in the conflict. [112]

On 26 January fighting started between Congolese army and M23 troops in the outskirts of Goma. UN sources estimated that around 500–1,000 Rwandan troops are helping the M23 rebels in the Goma area. An emergency session of the UN Security Council was held, where Congolese foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner called Rwanda's actions a "declaration of war." She also asked the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Rwanda. [113] [26]

Shelling by Congolese army troops killed five civilians in Gisenyi, Rwanda, on 27 January. [114]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ DRC support for the FDLR was first alleged by Rwanda. A report by the United Nations has found that members of the DRC army have fought alongside the FDLR. [1]
  2. ↑ Rwandan involvement in the M23 offensive (2022) was first alleged by the DR Congo, [2] a claim which was later substantiated by the findings of researchers tasked by the United Nations. [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Congo accuses Rwandan forces of attacking its border guards". Reuters. July 28, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "M23 rebels in DR Congo deny shooting down UN helicopter". BBC. March 30, 2022. Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "East Africa leaders extend regional troop mandate in DR Congo". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ "DRC should protect Rwandans in Goma – Governor Habitegeko". The New Times | Rwanda. June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Governor Habitegeko assures Rubavu border community of tight security". The New Times | Rwanda. June 12, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ Etahoben, Chief Bisong (November 7, 2022). "Rwandan Soldier Surrenders To UN In DR Congo". HumAngle Media. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Africa File Special Edition: M23 March Threatens Expanded Conflict in DR Congo and Regional War in the Great Lakes". Institute for the Study of War . January 31, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Lewis, David; Rolley, Sonia (January 31, 2025). "M23 rebels face Burundian forces in eastern Congo, heightening war fears". Reuters . Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "13 peacekeepers killed in eastern DRC, Kinshasa withdraws diplomats from Rwanda". Le Monde . January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ Kabanda, Caleb; MacLean, Ruth; Ndebo, Guerchom (February 2025). "Life After a Rebel Takeover". The New York Times.
  11. 1 2 3 "Congo says Rwandan forces supported latest rebel attacks as thousands flee". Reuters. June 13, 2022. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Rwanda backing M23 rebels in DRC: UN experts". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ "M23 Rebels Share Pictures of FDLR's Targeted Killings of Tutsis". ChimpReports. November 26, 2022. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Congo accuses Rwanda of sending disguised troops across border". Reuters. June 9, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ "DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi accuses Rwanda of backing rebels". France 24. June 5, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 Etahoben, Chief Bisong (November 7, 2022). "Rwandan Soldier Surrenders To UN In DR Congo". HumAngle Media. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  17. ↑ "DRC army backed rebel groups that abused civilians, says rights group". RFI. October 20, 2022. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  18. ↑ Bahati, Moise M. (November 24, 2022). "Rwanda: New Footage Suggests FDLR Fighting Alongside DR Congo Army". allAfrica.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  19. ↑ Anna, Cara (June 16, 2022). "EXPLAINER: Why Rwanda and Congo are sliding toward war again". National Post. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 "M23 rebels seize key DRC town, Congolese military blames Rwanda". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  21. ↑ "All UN peacekeepers to leave DR Congo by end of 2024". Al Jazeera. January 13, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ Cascais, Antonio (January 29, 2025). "DR Congo: 'Diplomacy has failed'". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "DR Congo, Rwanda peace talks canceled". Voice of America . December 15, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Bos, Jean-Michel (January 26, 2025). "War in the DR Congo: M23 follow the trail of raw materials". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  25. 1 2 Kabumba, Justin (January 22, 2025). "A rebel group is advancing on eastern Congo's largest city and over 100,000 people have fled". Associated Press . Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  26. 1 2 "DR Congo updates: UN chief urges Rwanda to pull back troops". Deutsche Welle . Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  27. ↑ Cursino, Malu (January 27, 2025). "Rebels say they have taken key DR Congo city". BBC . Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  28. ↑ Sharp, Alexandra (January 29, 2025). "Congolese President Skips Crisis Meeting With Rwanda". Foreign Policy . Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  29. 1 2 3 Natulya, Paul (January 29, 2025). "Risk of Regional Conflict Following Fall of Goma and M23 Offensive in the DRC". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  30. 1 2 Reyntjens 2009, p. 45.
  31. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 43–44.
  32. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 18–19.
  33. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 21–23.
  34. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 16–18.
  35. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 23.
  36. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 45–51.
  37. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 55.
  38. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 55–57.
  39. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 57.
  40. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 102–103.
  41. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 105.
  42. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 64.
  43. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 109–110.
  44. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 66.
  45. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 139–140.
  46. 1 2 "DR Congo: 20th anniversary of Laurent Désiré Kabila's assassination". Africanews . January 16, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  47. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, pp. 159–160.
  48. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 140.
  49. ↑ Reyntjens 2009, p. 141.
  50. 1 2 Schwikowski, Martina (April 8, 2022). "M23 rebels resurface in DR Congo". DW. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Rwanda says two soldiers detained in Congo have been released". Reuters. June 11, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Rwanda says its territory shelled by Congo, requests probe". Reuters. May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  53. ↑ "Rwanda accuses Congo of shelling its territory". DW.COM. May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  54. 1 2 "DR Congo halts RwandAir over alleged support for rebel group". RFI. May 28, 2022. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  55. ↑ "Rwandan Foreign Minister claims 'right to respond' amid tensions with DR Congo". Africanews. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  56. ↑ Fröhlich, Silja (May 31, 2022). "Why do tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda persist?". DW.COM. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  57. ↑ "DRC: Hundreds protest over Rwanda's alleged rebel backing". Africanews. June 2, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  58. ↑ Casalicchio, Emilio; Moens, Barbara (June 15, 2022). "The next hole in UK's Rwanda asylum plan: Conflict in Congo". POLITICO. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  59. ↑ "DRC accuses Rwanda of sending disguised soldiers across border". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  60. ↑ "Civilians caught in the fighting between DRC's army and the M23 rebels". Africanews. June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  61. ↑ "Congo, Rwanda accuse each other of fresh cross-border rocket strikes". Reuters. June 11, 2022. Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  62. ↑ "Rwanda says DRC launched two rockets into its soil". Africanews. June 11, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  63. ↑ "UN urges 'immediate' halt to cross-border clashes in eastern DRC". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  64. 1 2 Sabiti, Djaffar; Bujakera, Stanis (June 13, 2022). "Congo rebels seize eastern border town, army blames Rwanda". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  65. ↑ "DR Congo accuses Rwanda of 'invasion' as rebels attack town". DW.COM. Deutsche Welle. AFP, AP, Reuters. June 14, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  66. ↑ "DR Congo accuses Rwanda of 'invasion' as rebels seize town". news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  67. ↑ "Tension RDC-Rwanda: Kinshasa tente de réprimer les dérives xénophobes". Voice of America (in French). Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  68. ↑ "DRC: Authorities decide to fight "the hunt" for Rwandophones". Africanews. AFP. June 16, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  69. ↑ "DR Congo to combat sectarian 'stigmatisation' amid Rwanda tensions". France 24. June 16, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  70. 1 2 "Congo official: Rwanda will have war if it wants war". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  71. ↑ "Anti-Rwanda tensions boil over in eastern DR Congo city of Goma". France 24. June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  72. ↑ Tasamba, James (June 15, 2022), DRC defense council orders gov't to suspend pacts with Rwanda, Anadolu Agency, archived from the original on June 19, 2022, retrieved June 19, 2022
  73. ↑ Sabiti, Djaffar; Bujakera, Stanis (June 17, 2022). "Congo soldier shot dead in Rwanda, rebels make gains in east". National Post. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  74. ↑ "Congo Defense Council Calls for Halt to Agreements With Rwanda". Bloomberg.com. June 16, 2022. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  75. ↑ Kamale, Jean-Yves; Ssuuna, Ignatius (June 17, 2022). "Rwanda says Congolese soldier crossed border and opened fire". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  76. ↑ "DRC closes Rwanda border after soldier is shot dead during attack". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  77. ↑ Kamale, Jean-Yves; Ssuuna, Ignatius (June 17, 2022). "Congo's president says Rwandans waging 'economic war'". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  78. 1 2 Sabiti, Djaffar; Bujakera, Stanis (June 17, 2022). "Congolese soldier killed in Rwanda, fighting with rebels picks up". Reuters. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  79. ↑ "DRC, Rwanda agree to end rebel violence and normalise relations". RFI. July 7, 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  80. ↑ "East Congo clashes resume after de-escalation agreement with Rwanda". Reuters. July 7, 2022. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  81. ↑ "Tempête des tropiques : " Soutien militaire au M23, l'ONU enfonce le Rwanda "". RadioOkapi. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  82. ↑ "Rwanda Inside DRC, Aiding M23 – Report". VOA. August 4, 2022. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  83. 1 2 "Rwandan troops kill Congolese soldier who crossed border". Reuters. November 19, 2022. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  84. ↑ "Rwanda forces kill 'unidentified' DRC soldier after he crosses border". The East African. November 19, 2022. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  85. ↑ "East African leaders demand 'immediate ceasefire' in eastern DRC". RFI. November 24, 2022. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  86. ↑ "M23 rebels 'not really concerned' by Rwanda-DR Congo ceasefire deal". France 24. November 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  87. ↑ "Congolese Give Cautious Welcome to Deal on Rebel Violence". VOA. November 24, 2022. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  88. ↑ Lorgerie, Paul (December 6, 2022). "Congolese government ups toll in massacre to 272 civilians". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  89. ↑ "European mercenary question in the DR Congo conflict". The East African. January 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  90. ↑ "Rwanda says DR Congo warplane violated airspace". The Peninsula. January 24, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  91. ↑ Anne Soy; Cecilia Macaulay (January 25, 2023). "Rwanda-DR Congo tension: Shooting of plane an 'act of war'". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  92. ↑ "New security incident on the DRC-Rwanda border – Congolese army". Africanews. July 28, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  93. ↑ "The UN worries about a risk of "direct confrontation" between DRC and Rwanda". Africanews. October 18, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  94. ↑ "US Blinken urges calm from Rwanda, DR Congo leaders as fighting displaces millions". France 24. November 8, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  95. ↑ "Blinken Urges Calm From Rwanda, DR Congo Leaders". www.barrons.com. Agence France Presse. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  96. ↑ "US says Rwanda, DR Congo leaders agree on steps to de-escalate". France 24. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  97. ↑ "DRC: Fear mounts among residents as M23 rebels claim to capture new town in the east". Africanews. AP. November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  98. ↑ "DR Congo President Tshisekedi compares Rwanda counterpart Kagame to Hitler". BBC News. December 9, 2023.
  99. ↑ "War drums beat in DRC: Tshisekedi threatens to invade Rwanda". The Citizen. December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  100. ↑ Ssuuna, Ignatius (January 16, 2024). "Rwanda says it killed a Congolese soldier who crossed the border, heightening tensions". AP News. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  101. ↑ "Will Félix Tshisekedi deliver war or peace for DR Congo and Rwanda?". BBC News. January 20, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  102. ↑ Miller, Matthew. "Escalation of Hostilities in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo". U.S. Department of State.
  103. ↑ "Rwanda Clarifies Security Posture". MINAFFET.
  104. ↑ "DR Congo accuses Rwanda of airport 'drone of attack' in restive east". Al Jazeera. February 17, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  105. ↑ "Protest Against Rwanda, West In Key DR Congo City". MENAFN. AFP. February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  106. ↑ "M23 rebels seize a town in east of DR Congo - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  107. ↑ "At least 12 killed in bomb attacks on eastern DR Congo displacement camps". Al Jazeera.
  108. ↑ "DRC to take Rwanda to East African Court over alleged violations". Africanews. August 30, 2024.
  109. ↑ "Congo's M23 rebels say they will seize eastern city overnight". Reuters . January 26, 2026. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  110. ↑ "DRC cuts diplomatic ties with Rwanda over violence, UN calls emergency meet". Al Jazeera . January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  111. ↑ "DR Congo severs ties with Rwanda". France24 . January 26, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  112. 1 2 Townsend, Mark (January 25, 2025). "Rwandan army 'ready to invade DRC' and help rebels seize city". The Guardian . Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  113. ↑ "UN chief calls for Rwandan forces to leave DRC as rebels press offensive". Al Jazeera . January 26, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  114. ↑ "DRC conflict: M23 rebels enter Goma after claiming capture of city – as it happened". The Guardian . January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 27, 2025.

Sources

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.