Conflict Overview: The Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is an ongoing, multi-layered crisis primarily centered in the country's eastern provinces. It involves a complex mix of state armies, rebel groups, and foreign nations, driven by ethnic tensions, regional security interests, and competition for the DRC's vast mineral wealth.

Core Dynamic: The primary conflict axis is between the DRC government (with allies) and the M23 rebel group, which is widely backed by Rwanda. This is set against a backdrop of over 100 other armed militias and complex international interests.

Main Actors and Patrons

National Government & Forces

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Government Key Actors: President Félix Tshisekedi; Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) Primary Role: Attempting to reassert state sovereignty and defeat numerous armed groups, most notably the M23. Key Allies/Supporters: Pro-government militias (Wazalendo); Burundian troops deployed in support; China (military equipment).

Non-State Armed Groups

M23 (March 23 Movement) Primary Role: The primary insurgent group; captured major cities like Goma and Bukavu in 2025. Key Backer: Rwanda (accused by UN expert panels, the DRC, and Western nations of providing direct troops and substantial support).

FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) Primary Role: Ethnic Hutu armed group, includes elements implicated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Opposes the Rwandan government. Alleged Supporter: Elements within the DRC military and government have been accused by Rwanda of providing tacit support or cooperation.

Foreign Nations Involved

Rwanda Key Actor: President Paul Kagame; Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Stated Motive: National security, citing the threat from FDLR militants operating in eastern DRC. Alleged Role: Primary military and logistical backer of the M23 rebel group.

Uganda & Burundi Role: Uganda has troops in the DRC, citing its own security concerns. Burundi has deployed thousands of troops to support the DRC government directly against M23.

International Mediators & Peacekeepers

United States Role: Brokered a peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda in June 2025 ("Washington Accords"). Also has a strategic interest in the DRC's mineral resources, particularly cobalt.

Qatar Role: Facilitating separate peace talks between the DRC government and the M23 rebels in Doha.

African Union (AU) & Regional Blocs Role: Overseeing mediation; previously supported regional peacekeeping missions like SAMIDRC, which ended in 2025 after failing to stop M23.

United Nations Role: Maintains the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission. Its mandate is under review, and the DRC government has requested its departure.

Context and Key Drivers

Historical Roots

The current violence is a continuation of wars that began in the 1990s, originating from the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

• Following the genocide, perpetrators fled into eastern Zaire (now DRC), forming armed groups like the FDLR.
• Rwanda invaded twice (1996 and 1998) to pursue these groups, triggering the First and Second Congo Wars—the latter involving nine African nations and being one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II.
• The M23, composed primarily of ethnic Tutsis, first emerged in 2012, claiming the DRC government had failed to protect them. It was defeated in 2013 but resurged dramatically in late 2021.

The Role of Resources

Control over the DRC's immense mineral wealth is a fundamental driver of the conflict.

• Critical Minerals: Resources like cobalt, copper, tantalum, and gold are essential for electronics, electric vehicles, and aerospace. Armed groups use control of mines to fund their operations.
• Global Competition: This resource competition has drawn in international powers. Chinese companies control a majority of the DRC's industrial mining sector. The United States, seeking to secure its own supply chains, has explicitly linked its peace diplomacy to gaining access to these "critical minerals".

Summary and Current Status

The situation in the DRC is a protracted internationalized conflict. Recent U.S. and Qatari-led diplomacy has produced agreements, but analysts remain skeptical due to deep-rooted issues of security, ethnicity, resource exploitation, and a profound lack of trust between the main parties.

The implementation of peace deals, rather than their signing, is the true test. As of late 2025, the "Washington Accords" have not led to a Rwandan withdrawal, fighting continues, and the humanitarian crisis—with widespread displacement and reports of war crimes—persists.