The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda of responsibility for the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians in the country’s east since early December, following a renewed offensive by the M23 rebel movement.
The accusations come just weeks after both governments signed a peace deal brokered by the United States on December 4. Despite the agreement, the M23 swiftly captured the strategic city of Uvira, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee into neighboring Burundi.
According to a statement released by the Congolese government on Wednesday, Rwandan forces allegedly used bombs and kamikaze drones during operations that have left a devastating toll on civilians. The statement described the actions as a “clear act of aggression” and claimed that Rwanda had deployed three additional battalions into South Kivu province, with intentions of advancing toward the Kalemie axis in Tanganyika, a region rich in mineral resources.
Observers warn that if the M23 expands south into Tanganyika, the group could secure a foothold in the northeast of the former Katanga province, the mining hub that provides vital revenue to the Congolese state.
The M23, which resurfaced in 2021, has steadily taken control of large areas in eastern Congo with alleged Rwandan support. Its offensives have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
The latest escalation began on December 2 after a six-month lull. By December 10, the rebels had seized Uvira, gaining control of the border with Burundi, a close ally of Kinshasa.
Washington later accused Rwanda of violating the peace deal, which had been praised by US President Donald Trump as a “miracle” agreement. Under international pressure, the M23 announced on December 17 that it would withdraw from Uvira, though concerns remain about the group’s broader ambitions in the mineral-rich southeast.
