February 9, 2025.

The Democratic Republic of The Congo has long been plagued by multi-ethnic conflicts since the 1990s, particularly in the eastern region of the country. This instability has led to long lasting disputes between various actors and rebel groups over resources, ethnicity, and ideology, further fueling geopolitical conflicts. As of recently, the ethnic Tutsi rebel group, the March 23^rd Movement has launched a new offensive, part of a series of attacks since 2012, on Congolese government forces. On January 23^rd the March 23^rd Movement, otherwise known as M23, began its Goma offensive. This offensive lasted from the 23^rd to the 30^th, and saw the taking of Goma, on the 26^th, the capital city of the North Kivu province containing 2 million people. This offensive and occupation of Goma has led to death of around 2,900 people and the displacement of more than 700,000, who fled the city before and during the occupation. The conflict has also led to further complications such as the spread disease and a prison break which led to the sexual assault and murder of more than 150 female inmates.

M23 sprung out the March 23^rd rebellion against the Congolese government, which lasted from April of 2012 to November of 2013. The M23 rebel group was officially founded on the 6^th of May in 2012 and is strongly alleged to be backed by the government of Rwanda. However, today Rwanda denies these allegations and its connections to M23. In November of 2012 M23 captured the city of Goma, giving itself a legitimate foothold in the rebellion against the government. Following the first occupation of Goma, The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Untied Nations forces took back the control of Goma in late 2012. Since then, M23 has launched a series of smaller operations within the province of North Kivu, capturing the border town of Bunagana. However, the 2025 Goma offensive appears to be a large accomplishment for M23, as they plan to continue pushing on and vow for the entire liberation of the DRC.

The current M23 offensive and occupation of Goma has proved to be the largest and most effective operation that the group has carried out so far. In the early stages of the operation, M23 pushed into the outskirts of Goma, and entered the city on the 26^th, successfully capturing it on the 30^th. Numerous significant events unfolded during the weeklong operation. On the 24^th, rebel forces captured and killed Peter Cirimwami Nkuba, who served as Major General of the Armed Forces of The Democratic Republic of The Congo and the governor of the North Kivu province. A day after M23 forces entered the city, the absence of government forces and the chaos created during the fighting provided an opening for a mass prison break at the Muzenze prison, which housed many former M23 fighters. During the prison break a fire was set and more than 150 female inmates were raped and murdered by escaping male prisoners, only 13 female inmates survived. By time rebels took Goma, nearly 2,900 people, mostly civilians were killed, and many more remain unaccounted for as they are unreachable by humanitarian organizations. A further 700,000 people have been displaced according to Vivan van de Perre, the deputy head of the UN peacekeeping force based in Goma. Another 2,800 Congolese have been reported to be wounded. The withdrawal of Congolese troops and insertion of M23 rebels brought large scale chaos, as many citizens of Goma suffered from violence, looting, and sexual assault from the Congolese army as they fled the rebels. This led to some citizens to support M23, stating that they “feel safe with the new ones,” [1] as one Goma citizen stated regarding the looting of their home by the Congolese army.

Since the capture of Goma, M23 rebels have been patrolling the streets using vehicles and flashing guns and equipment seized from the Congolese army. After the fighting, the streets of Goma remain littered with trash and bodies, which M23 have ordered local groups to clean up. The World Health Organization reported an outbreak of cholera and ebola within the province of North Kivu. This is expected to worsen as thousands of bodies and burials take place in Goma during the next few days. This is further complicated by the freeze on foreign aid announced by Trumps administration as the humanitarian situation continues to worsen in the Congo. After capturing the city M23 announced a ceasefire with the Congolese army to allow humanitarian aid and assistance to those killed, wounded, or displaced during the fighting. However, M23 have since broken this agreement as they captured a village in the province of South Kivu.

The future events of the conflict are unknown as M23 has often captured a city and then lost it shortly after, as they did with Goma in 2012. However, it is likely that they will continue to push south into the province of South Kivu and towards the city of Bukavu. This week rebel leaders threatened to attack a U.N base if they don’t hand over the 2,000 Congolese citizens, army and intelligence officers, and the city’s major, all of which are taking refuge in the base. DRC president Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan president Paul Kagame are expected to meet at a summit in Tanzia to discuss the conflict. However, the result of a complete resolution is unlikely. While the M23 rebels have been active in the region for more than a decade, it is possible that this intrastate conflict will unfold into a much larger one involving more actors and poses the displacement of millions of people.

[1] Elian Peltier and Guerchom Ndebo. “‘Days of Mass Burials Ahead’ as Congo Mourns Its Dead in Goma”. The New York Times . February 5, 2025 Wednesday.