The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has issued a strong resolution demanding Rwanda’s immediate withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), citing military support for the M23 rebel group. The resolution, unanimously passed on Friday, also calls for renewed diplomatic negotiations between DRC and Rwanda to de-escalate tensions.
The call to action follows M23’s seizure of two major cities in eastern Congo, intensifying fears of a broader regional conflict. Rwanda has repeatedly denied allegations that it provides troops and arms to the rebel group, instead asserting that its interventions target Hutu militias, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which Kigali accuses of siding with the Congolese army.
The resolution strongly condemns M23’s military advances in North Kivu and South Kivu, which it claims have been backed by Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF). The Security Council has demanded that M23 immediately halt hostilities and withdraw from occupied territories.
Congo has long accused Rwanda of using M23 as a proxy force to exploit its mineral resources, including gold and coltan, essential for the tech industry. The United States has already imposed sanctions on a Rwandan minister and an M23 leader for their alleged roles in fueling the conflict.
While the UN resolution focuses on Rwanda’s involvement, it also criticizes the Congolese military for supporting armed groups like the FDLR. It calls for an immediate cessation of all such alliances and the urgent implementation of neutralization commitments.
The FDLR, founded by Hutu extremists who fled Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, has been a long-standing source of tension between the two nations. Rwanda accuses the DRC of working with these groups to counter M23, despite official claims from Kinshasa that it is taking action against soldiers cooperating with the FDLR.
The decade-long M23 insurgency has led to violence against UN peacekeepers, with multiple fatalities among MONUSCO forces. The UNSC resolution warns that attacks on peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and that individuals responsible could face international sanctions.
As tensions rise, the international community is watching closely. The crisis in eastern Congo remains one of Africa’s most complex security challenges, with deep-rooted ethnic conflicts, geopolitical rivalries, and economic interests fuelling the instability.
