This backgrounder was written by Lesley Myers, Editor for UN peacekeeping’s Strategic Communications team. Lesley is a political analyst and strategic planner with over 15 years’ experience in data-driven politics, development, and peacekeeping.
There’s a crisis happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has led to immense human suffering, displacement, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. It has also sparked fears of a broader, regional war.
The situation on the ground
In January, the M23 armed group rapidly advanced into North Kivu province in DRC’s east, reinforced with troops and equipment from Rwanda’s armed forces, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The M23 has taken control of Goma, a trade hub with a population of over two million people, and the capital of DRC’s North Kivu province. In its latest push, the M23 has now moved into South Kivu province, capturing its capital city, Bukavu, and reports of heavy fighting continue.
The ongoing fighting has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced, deepening the country’s already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Civilians are facing shortages of food and water, overwhelmed hospitals, and a growing use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. They are impeding the movement of UN personnel and obstructing humanitarian corridors as civilian casualties continue to rise.
The human rights situation has also deteriorated significantly, with documented cases of forced recruitment, looting of displacement sites, and searches of hospitals and homes by M23 in search of both soldiers and civilians who they perceived to be opposed to their group.
Who are the M23?
The M23 are an armed group that emerged in 2012 amidst tensions between countries in the region, supported by the RDF. They have been accused of war crimes and human rights violations, and have been sanctioned by the UN for committing serious violations of international law involving the targeting of women and children in situations of armed conflict in the DRC including killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, and forced displacement.
At the time, the group violently seized territory in eastern DRC but were successfully repelled by the DRC’s national army, the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, as well as international pressure on Rwanda.
However, in 2021, regional tensions reached new heights, triggering a re-emergence of the M23. The group has been progressively taking control of territories in eastern DRC, establishing a parallel administration and levying “taxes” on local populations, while mass killings and rape continue to be reported.
The M23’s resurgence has also contributed to the militarization of mining sites in eastern DRC, which is exceptionally rich in natural resources critical to making electronics like cell phones and electric cars.
What is UN Peacekeeping doing?
MONUSCO has been protecting vulnerable populations and unarmed Congolese defense forces who have sought refuge in its premises. The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office receives daily requests for individual protection from social actors who face threats of reprisals from the M23.
MONUSCO is also supporting demining efforts, and working to protect human rights defenders, journalists, and members of civil society organizations. However, the M23 is severely restricting MONUSCO’s freedom of movement, hampering MONUSCO’s ability to fulfill these critical tasks.
Other UN organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), and UN’s Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), are also working to provide life-saving assistance to communities in need.
What’s next?
Long-term peace requires a political solution at the regional level. MONUSCO’s leadership is engaging in diplomatic efforts to push for peace. The UN and the Security Council have called on Rwanda to end its support for the M23 and withdraw its forces from the DRC. The UN Secretary-General has called on both countries to remain engaged in peace talks to bring an end to the violence.
Why have UN peacekeepers been in DR Congo for 65 years? Learn more here.