Following a lightning onslaught, the rebel forces of M23 movement allegedly backed by Rwanda took control of nearly the whole city of Goma, a vital hub for the trade of minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in late January 2025.

Rwanda Supports Regional Summit on DRC Conflict

13:54, 2 February 2025

Ekaterina Shilova

Writer / Editor

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The conflict between the DRC government and rebel forces has intensified in recent weeks. According to local media, M23 rebels have taken control of several towns, including Goma, a city with a population of two million. The escalated conflict has reportedly led to the deaths of over a hundred soldiers.

Sputnik

The South African Development Community (SADC) called for a joint summit with the East African Community to address the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This proposal was welcomed by the Rwandan foreign ministry, which reiterated its support for a political solution to the conflict.

The SADC meeting was called after the deaths of South African and Malawian soldiers in Goma, where they were serving as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo peacekeeping force. This happened amid significant advances by the M23 rebel group in the eastern DRC, a group allegedly backed by Rwanda.

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Although Rwanda denies military support for the M23 group, a UN report alleges that Rwanda has 4,000 troops in the eastern DRC and has "de facto" control over the group. In turn, Rwanda alleges that the DRC supports the FDLR, a group associated with the 1994 Rwandan genocide.