On February 14, 2025, President Paul Kagame met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss Rwanda-UN cooperation and the ongoing security crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The meeting focused on the urgent need for a lasting political solution to the conflict. Both leaders emphasized the importance of a comprehensive political approach involving all stakeholders to resolve the security crisis in eastern DRC. President Kagame reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution that adequately addresses the country’s security concerns, according to a statement from the Office of the President.
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The conflict between the M23 Movement and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) continues to escalate, with M23 recently seizing control of Goma and other areas in North and South Kivu.
For years, the Congolese government has accused Rwanda of providing military support to M23 in its fight against the Congolese army and allied militias. Kinshasa has also alleged that Rwanda has deployed troops within its territory and has been lobbying the international community to impose sanctions on Kigali though these efforts have yet to yield results.
Rwanda has consistently denied any involvement with M23. Instead, Kigali has expressed security concerns regarding the Congolese government’s cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Rwanda views the FDLR composed of individuals responsible for the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi alongside Burundian troops, European mercenaries, and SADC forces, as a direct threat to its national security.
As regional and international actors seek solutions to the conflict, M23 recently declared its intent to continue its military advance toward Kinshasa with the goal of overthrowing the Congolese government. However, the group stated it would be willing to halt hostilities if Kinshasa agreed to engage in dialogue an offer that President Félix Tshisekedi has so far rejected.
On February 14, 2025, M23 announced that it had taken control of Kavumu, a town in South Kivu. Meanwhile, leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) have intensified calls for dialogue between the Congolese government and M23, emphasizing that negotiations remain the key to achieving lasting peace in the region.
