What you need to know about the unfolding crisis in DRC

On January 27th, the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) rebel group announced that its forces would occupy the city of Goma following the expiry of its 25 January ultimatum to members of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) to surrender their weapons and military equipment to the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Since then, there have been reports of M23 forces marching into Goma and the group has declared that the city has fallen. Thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes with dozens reported dead and hundreds injured.  The UN reports that fighting is still ongoing in various parts of the city and the situation remains volatile. The major actors are as below.

Mouvement du 23 mars (M23)

M23 is an armed group operating in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with backing from the Rwandan government which the latter denies. The roots of the M23 go back to the disrupted integration process of Rwandophone militants following the Congo Wars, splitting those willing to return to Rwanda and others desiring to stay in DRC. The M23’s name comes from the failed negotiation process between the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a precursor to M23, and the Congolese government on 23 March 2009.

Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)

The AFC is a newly created politico-military movement that seeks to overthrow the DRC government. AFC was launched on December 15, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya with the group inviting other armed groups and members of the Congolese military to join its rebellion. AFC conducts advocacy and public outreach on behalf of M23 and seeks to extend its armed insurgency beyond eastern DRC.

UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)

MONUSCO took over from an earlier UN peacekeeping operation – the United Nations Organization Mission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in 2010 after a Security Council resolution. MONUSCO has more than 16,000 uniformed personnel including 14,000 military personnel. As of October 2024 Kenya has 396 personnel and is the tenth largest contributor of military personnel to MONUSCO.

Rwanda

Rwanda is largely believed to be a main backer of M23 with members of the Rwandan Defence Force said to fight alongside M23 in several conflicts in the region. According to the UN, RDF provides M23 with military personnel and technical support. In February and March 2024, several Governments and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy demanded that Rwanda halt all support for M23 and immediately withdraw all RDF personnel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kenya

In August last year, the first batch of the fourth contingent of the Kenya Quick Reaction Force (KENQRF 4) destined for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was officially flagged off in Nairobi. KENQRF 4 has joined MONUSCO in operations against armed groups, protecting civilians, supporting humanitarian efforts, and aiding in the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants. Kenya’s hospitality to the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) that has been sanctioned by the United States and Belgium among other western powers has however placed the country in a diplomatic quagmire.

South Africa

In May 2023 South Africa alongside Tanzania and Malawi announced the deployment of a new regional force under the SADC. Dubbed SAMIDRC, the new regional force is supposed to have close to 5,000 troops but this number is yet to be achieved. There have also been reports of at least half a dozen South African military personnel killed in the DRC conflict and this has stoked tensions between the country and Rwanda.

Western Countries’ Involvement

DRC’s former colonial powers France and Belgium maintain a stronghold with a significant stake in the country’s economic and military interests. The two European powers are reported to provide military support to the Congolese army both officially and allegedly through hired mercenaries. Earlier this week Russia, the United States, France and a host of other European countries called for a cessation of hostilities and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.