M23 rebels vow to capture Kinshasa as fighting escalates in Eastern DRC

The Rwanda-backed armed group M23 has vowed to continue its “march of liberation” toward the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) capital, Kinshasa, as its fighters make significant advances in the mineral-rich eastern region. The group’s recent capture of most of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, marks a dramatic escalation in a conflict that has plagued the area for decades.

The M23’s offensive has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis, displacing over half a million people this month alone, according to the United Nations. Residents in Goma reported widespread looting and severe shortages of food and water.

“There is nothing left to eat, everything has been looted,” said Bosco, a local resident who shared his concerns. “We need help urgently.”

Rwanda has repeatedly denied accusations of supporting the M23, claiming its primary interest is to eliminate fighters linked to the 1994 genocide, particularly the FDLR, a DRC-based armed group formed by former Hutu leaders involved in the massacre of Tutsis. However, UN experts and the DRC government accuse Rwanda of having thousands of troops in the region and maintaining “de facto control” over the M23, alleging that Kigali seeks to profit from the area’s vast mineral wealth.

The DRC is home to significant reserves of gold, cobalt, coltan, tantalum, and tin—minerals critical for global electronics and battery production. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the exploitation of these resources and the destabilization of the region.

The fighting has also sparked fears of a public health crisis. Africa’s health agency, the Africa CDC, warned that the violence in eastern DRC—a hotspot for infectious diseases and the origin of the deadly clade 1b variant of mpox—could increase the risk of a pandemic.

“Stop this unnecessary war that can create a lot of issues in terms of public health,” Africa CDC head Jean Kaseya urged on Thursday.

As the M23 continues its advance, the international community is calling for an immediate end to the conflict to prevent further humanitarian suffering and regional instability.