On February 3, 2025, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), continue with their daily activities at the Lushagala camp. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are set to attend a joint summit this weekend to discuss the ongoing crisis in the region, according to Kenya’s presidency. This comes after both leaders had previously missed other peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict. (Photo by Tony KARUMBA / AFP)
In a significant development, the M23 rebel group, which is backed by Rwanda, declared a “humanitarian ceasefire” starting Tuesday in the volatile eastern DRC. This announcement comes just days before a planned crisis summit between Tshisekedi and Kagame.
Earlier, the M23 and Rwandan troops had seized control of Goma, a key city in the mineral-rich and conflict-ridden North Kivu region. Although fighting in Goma has halted, clashes have spread to South Kivu, raising concerns that the M23 might target Bukavu, its provincial capital.
The M23 is part of the political-military coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (River Congo Alliance), which issued a statement Monday declaring the ceasefire “for humanitarian reasons” starting the following day. The group clarified that it had “no intention of taking control of Bukavu or any other areas,” despite previous claims about advancing toward the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.
Despite several ceasefire agreements over the past three years, previous truces have repeatedly broken down, resulting in ongoing conflict.
In response to the crisis, Kenya’s presidency announced that Tshisekedi and Kagame would meet for an extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Saturday.
In Bukavu, local sources report that the city remains calm for now, but there are signs that the M23 is regrouping, with reinforcements and new weapons, suggesting a potential push towards the front lines once the fighting in Goma subsides.
South Africa-Rwanda Tensions Escalate
Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged continued support to the DRC despite calls from home to withdraw South African troops following the deaths of 14 soldiers in the region. These troops, part of a broader SADC mission, had been deployed to eastern DRC in 2023.
Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of a ceasefire to facilitate peace talks involving all parties, including both state and non-state actors, and underlined that diplomacy is essential for achieving lasting peace in the DRC.
Rwanda’s government spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, sharply responded to Ramaphosa’s comments, accusing South Africa of supporting the DRC government’s alleged war against its own people.
Kagame, in his own remarks, stated that South African troops are playing a “belligerent” role in eastern DRC and accused them of actively supporting the DRC government’s offensive. A UN report from last year claimed that Rwanda had deployed up to 4,000 troops in the region and has “de facto” control over the M23. The eastern DRC is rich in valuable minerals, including coltan, gold, and other resources vital to global industries.
Rwanda has denied its military involvement with the M23 and instead accuses the DRC of sheltering the FDLR, a Hutu militia responsible for atrocities during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
South Africa’s contingent in the SADC force is led by its military, with contributions from Malawi and Tanzania.
In further developments, the United States announced the reduction of its embassy staff in Kinshasa in response to the deteriorating situation.
