NEWS– The M23 rebels have continued to capture key cities, including Goma, Bukavu and Walikale and their advance has significantly weakened the Democratic Republic of Congo military presence in these areas, disrupting local governance and displacing tens of thousands of civilians.
The recent capture of Walikale is particularly significant due to its rich mineral deposits, which provide crucial funding for armed groups operating in the region, despite diplomatic efforts to stop hostilities.
A member of Congolese Civil Society Organization (LUCHA), Steward Muhindo, described the dire conditions faced by civilians as not good for humaity.
The killings continue in areas controlled by M23 and it’s very difficult situation for civilians as there is no humanitarian assistance now, since many people have fled because of war, and their homes including internal people’s displacement camps have been destroyed.
Muhindo noted that the humanitarian situation is very bad, and crimes against civilians continue unbated while minerals resources of the country continue to be robbed, even in areas where the Congolese Armed Forces are in control.
The M23 rebel outfit leadership which claims to be fighting for the rights of ethnic Tutsis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Congo, has faced international sanctions, particularly from the European Union and in response, the rebels have withdrawn from ongoing peace negotiations, further deepening the crisis and their decision to walk away from dialogue has dashed hopes for a ceasefire and reinforced their commitment to achieving military dominance.
It should be remembered that the Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi Thilombo and Rwandan President Paul Kagame last week met in the City of Doha in Qatar, in an effort to broker peace, however, despite releasing a joint statement calling for de-escalation of the conflict, no concrete resolutions seem to have emerged.
The government of Angola, which had earlier played a key mediating role, officially withdrew from peace negotiations on March 24th 2025 and in response, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) have formed another group to continue the peace efforts, which includes former African heads of state who would help lead negotiations, however, whether this new approach will yield meaningful progress to solve the conflict remains uncertain.
According to Muhindo, ordinary Democratic Republic of Congo citizens have little faith in these diplomatic maneuvers.
“The general mood in Congo is low, pepple are tired because they have lived through conflict for a long time. It’s not our fault that there is war, but every time, it is civilians who suffer most due to decisions made by different leaders in the region. We are tired of Congolese and regional leaders who are not serious about a long-lasting solution. Their goal is not peace, including international leaders that continue to support tribal politics in Congo.” Muhindo summed up the prevailing situation among the ordinary civilians.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Tshisekedi has since reportedly offered a deal to the United States which provides access to Congo’s vast mineral wealth in exchange for military assistance against M23 rebellion as the country is home to some of the world’s most valuable minerals which include cobalt, lithium and copper, all are essential resources for the global technology and renewable energy industries.
President Tshisekedi’s proposal is seen as a desperate bid to strengthen the Democratic Republic of Congo military’s position, but it also reflects the geopolitical significance of the country’s natural resources.
Muhindo believes that many Democratic Republic of Congo citizens have lost faith in their President’s leadership.
“People no longer trust President Tshisekedi because he is part of the problem. He has not led the country well, corruption has persisted in the country. We don’t have an army that is able to protect the country. There is no progress with the peace talks. The war continues in Congo. M23 has continued with the atrocities. Symbolically, it is progress for the Rwandan president and Congolese president to meet, but for the ordinary civilians, nothing has changed,” Muhindo laboured to explain.
Meanwhile, Regional tensions were further inflamed after the government of Burundi accused Rwanda and claimed that their neighbours were planning an attack against their territory.
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye told international media that intelligence sources had uncovered a Rwandan strategy and plan to destabilize Burundi, a claim that Rwanda was quick to dismiss as baseless and unfounded.
The situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continues to deteriorate, with M23 rebels gaining ground and diplomatic efforts failing to produce viable solutions, because the rebels’ refusal to negotiate or withdraw from their invasion signals a prolonged and uncertain conflict ahead.
However Muhindo noted that there is need for the Democratic Republic of Congo government to take responsibility and ensure that they protect its people without portioning blame or waiting for external support.
“It’s the responsibility of Democratic Republic of Congo government to protect its citizens, administer justice to the many people affected and charge those with crimes against Congolese. Further, he says Uganda and Rwanda need to respect international law. It doesn’t help to build development in Africa if peace is not established. If there is peace in Congo, the region will benefit and grow, but if the conflict persists, the majority in the region will continue to suffer,” Muhindo explained.
The situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo now remains tense and civilians continue to be caught in the crossfire, with displacement and humanitarian needs rising sharply, as regional and international actors scramble for solutions of genuine or calculated geopolitical interests, the specter of a prolonged war looms large and there is no hope that the war will soon come to an end to pave way for development.
Additional Reporting from Associated Press
