ANALYSING CLAIMS AROUND M23

M23 has made some key gains in recent weeks, seizing control of the eastern Congolese city of Goma. Despite unilaterally declaring a ceasefire on 4 February, the rebel group went on to violate this by capturing the town of Nyabibwe - apparently with its sights set on Bukavu, another regional capital in DRC’s east.

While the militia claims its mission is to defend the marginalised Tutsi community, its actions strongly suggest other motives are play - as its trail of atrocities, focus on lucrative mines and all-but-undeniable assistance from neighbouring Rwanda attest.

Our man William Sakawa digs deeper.

Sources:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/congo-ceasefire-m23-nyabibwe-1.7451523 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/4/rwandan-backed-m23-rebels-declare-ceasefire-in-drc 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-63899461  

https://www.msn.com/en-us/war-and-conflicts/military/un-says-the-death-toll-in-fighting-in-the-eastern-congo-city-of-goma-is-at-least-900/ar-AA1ylgli 

https://cic.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Resurgence-of-the-M23-EN.pdf

https://www.hrw.org/report/2005/06/01/curse-gold 

https://archive.ph/HA8kK

https://www.hrw.org/report/2005/06/01/curse-gold 

https://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/14013/Tshisekedi-calls-out-Kagame-on-the-M23-militia 

https://docs.un.org/en/s/2024/432