In 2025, over 7,000 people have died due to the violent conflict in eastern Congo, as M23 rebels backed by Rwanda gain territory. The situation has prompted the European Union to reconsider its agreements with Rwanda amid rising concerns over humanitarian and security crises. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa emphasized the pressing need for intervention during her address to the U.N. Human Rights Council.
The Democratic Republic of Congo reports that over 7,000 individuals have died this year due to the conflict fueled by M23 rebels purportedly supported by Rwanda. The rebels have made significant territorial gains in eastern Congo, particularly in the mineral-rich regions, raising alarm about the escalating humanitarian crisis. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka emphasized the alarming security and humanitarian conditions before the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The conflict has intensified recently, with M23 capturing strategic locations such as Goma in January and Bukavu this month. As the most powerful armed group in eastern Congo, M23 is competing fiercely for control in an area possessing vast mineral wealth that is crucial to global technology industries. In response, the European Union is reviewing its agreement with Rwanda regarding the critical raw materials trade.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, reiterated support for Congo’s territorial integrity, leading to a suspension of defense consultations with Rwanda. The EU and Rwanda’s previous memorandum aimed to foster sustainable supply chains for essential minerals, which Rwanda extracts, including tin and gold. This situation follows Congo’s allegations of resource depletion by Rwanda and an appeal from the United States for an end to mineral sourcing from M23-controlled areas.
The U.N. has expressed concerns that this conflict poses broader threats to regional stability, given its history of prolonged strife that has displaced millions. The M23 group claims its intent is to challenge the governance of President Félix Tshisekedi, seeking greater authority while reinforced by Rwandan troops near Goma. Despite a call for a ceasefire, the rebels continue to advance.
M23 leaders assert they aim to protect ethnic Tutsis and Rwandan-origin Congolese from discrimination and seek to transform Congo into a better-governed state. Analysts, however, maintain that this rhetoric serves as a facade for Rwanda’s intervention. In Goma, witnesses report that M23’s intelligence has misidentified suspects, resulting in violence, including the deaths of 11 individuals wrongly suspected of theft.
The ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, driven by M23 rebels allegedly backed by Rwanda, has resulted in over 7,000 fatalities this year. Rising tensions and territorial disputes have attracted international attention, prompting the European Union to reassess its agreements with Rwanda. Humanitarian and security conditions in the region have reached alarming levels, indicating a dire need for diplomatic intervention and a sustainable resolution.
Original Source: apnews.com
