Kenya, US Pushes For DRC Conflict Ceasefire As M23 Advances
M23 fighters advanced on numerous fronts in DR Congo’s turbulent east Friday, as the UN Security Council for the first time urged Rwanda to cease supporting the armed group and put an end to the violence.
According to UN analysts, the M23 movement, which is supported by some 4,000 Rwandan soldiers, now controls huge areas of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a volatile region rich in natural resources.
Its rapid progress has forced thousands to flee. Last Sunday, fighters gained control of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, weeks after seizing Goma, North Kivu’s capital and the country’s biggest metropolis in the east.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday that “strongly condemns the ongoing offensive and advances of the M23 in North Kivu and South Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defense Forces.”
Moreover, it “calls on the Rwanda Defense Forces to cease support to the M23 and immediately withdraw from DRC territory without preconditions.”
I had a telephone conversation with the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reaffirming our commitment to strengthening Kenya-U.S. diplomatic ties and advancing shared interests.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 22, 2025
Secretary Rubio and I also discussed regional peace and security, particularly the…
The Security Council had previously called for a “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” between all parties, but on Friday, all countries, including the three African members, blamed Kigali.
M23 now controls Lake Kivu following its lightning offensive in the east.
According to the UN, the most recent conflict has resulted in an exodus of over 50,000 Congolese to Burundi, Uganda, and other countries.
The European Union summoned Rwanda’s ambassador on Friday, demanding that Kigali withdraw soldiers from the nation and stop supporting the armed organization.
According to a State Department official, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for an immediate ceasefire during a discussion with Kenyan President William Ruto, stating that there was “no military solution to the conflict”.
Since the surrender of Bukavu, the Congolese military forces have been fleeing without providing much resistance.
“Almost no Congolese soldiers are fighting,” an observer stated on Friday, adding that the “only ones still fighting are the Wazalendo” pro-Kinshasa militia.
According to MSF, the North Kivu city of Masisi and its surrounds “are the scene of almost daily clashes” between the M23 and Wazalendo.
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The M23 is currently heading toward Uvira, near the Burundi border on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika, which is the main escape route for retreating Congolese soldiers.
A source in Uvira’s municipality said Friday that the military commander had taken “measures to secure the population and their property,” adding that “undisciplined elements had been arrested.”
Residents told AFP that Uvira was in disarray, with hundreds of soldiers and their families crossing the town on foot to get to the port.
At least 423 convicts have escaped from Uvira Prison, and the bishop has been robbed by armed men.
Kenya, US Pushes For DRC Conflict Ceasefire As M23 Advances
