The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused Rwanda of orchestrating the killing of more than 1,500 civilians in eastern Congo since early December 2025, when Kigali-backed M23 rebels launched a renewed offensive.

Kinshasa labelled the attacks a “clear act of aggression against national sovereignty” and a “serious and repeated violation of international law.”

Civil society reports, corroborated by humanitarian sources and state services, detail the toll. The surge has displaced nearly 500,000 people in South Kivu alone, according to UN estimates, worsening what is already one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

M23 forces captured Uvira, a strategic port city on Lake Tanganyika bordering Burundi and Rwanda, just days after the December 4 U.S.-brokered DRC-Rwanda peace deal—which excluded the rebels. Kinshasa claims Rwanda has since deployed three new battalions advancing toward mineral-rich Tanganyika Province, accusing Kigali of deliberate sabotage of the accord.

The conflict’s roots lie in the post-1994 Rwandan genocide spillover:

• Rwanda accuses DRC of harboring FDLR Hutu militias linked to the genocide.
• DRC counters that M23 serves Kigali’s resource interests, particularly in coltan and gold.

The offensive underscores the fragility of the truce. Fighting in 2024–2025 displaced millions, killed thousands, and led to international sanctions on Rwandan officials. Rwanda denies troop involvement, calling the accusations “baseless” and blaming DRC for failing to neutralize FDLR.

The UN and African Union have urged restraint, while the future of the U.S.-mediated deal remains uncertain amid escalating rhetoric. The conflict—driven by eastern DRC’s vast mineral wealth powering global technology—continues to devastate civilians across ethnic lines.