DR Congo-M23

Critical Threats (21 October) reported that former president Joseph Kabila has formally joined the M23 as political leader of the rebranded Front pour la Refondation de la Nation (FRN), and that nearly two weeks of heavy fighting between the FRN and pro-government forces in the Walungu highlands has spilled into the foothills of the Ruzizi Plain in Uvira district. Sofrep said the FRN announced at a 16 October rally in Kamanyola that it intends to march on Uvira and Kalemie, and that clashes around Itara-Luvungi on 20 October disrupted traffic on National Road 5 between Bukavu and Uvira (a lower-reliability outlet; unconfirmed). Earlier, AFC-M23 said it would not seize new territory, and an AU delegation met its leaders on 7 October. Only two of the eight protocols of the Doha framework have been signed.

Background

M23 is a rebel group in eastern Congo that briefly occupied Goma in 2012. In January-February 2025 M23 and its political umbrella AFC, backed by the Rwandan army, seized Goma and Bukavu, the east's two biggest cities, in the largest escalation since 2012. In June 2025 Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington; in July Congo and M23 signed a declaration of principles in Qatar, followed by a Doha framework agreement in November 2025. Fighting has continued alongside the talks.

Key issues

• Alleged Rwandan backing of M23
• Governance of and withdrawal from seized areas
• Ceasefire monitoring and implementation

Key milestones

Parties

Congolese government forces and Wazalendo vs M23/AFC (suspected Rwandan backing)

Countries involved

Key events in the last 30 days

Other issues in these countries

• Geopolitics & Diplomacy🇨🇩 DR Congo

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