Geographically large and resource-rich, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been plagued by war for decades. Stability and security in the country has been compromised over this time by conflict involving its neighbours, and non-state Congolese armed groups. Millions have died and millions have been displaced. Conflict has undermined economic development and government accountability.
The eastern part of the country has been chronically unstable for the last three decades. Since 2021, violence in eastern DRC has been stoked by the resurgence of the M23 rebel group backed by Rwanda. M23 has gained significant territorial control in the last year and with the backing of Rwandan troops, has demonstrated significant military strength. In late December 2024, the UN Group of Experts on the DRC warned of the risk of regional war if the M23 crisis is not dealt with.
The M23 made headlines in late January 2025 when it seized control of the key city of Goma, North Kivu province. Fourteen SANDF soldiers were killed in the fighting, raising diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Rwanda. Since late 2023, the SANDF has been deployed alongside Tanzania and Malawian troops as part of the SADC force in the DRC (SAMIDRC) since late 2023. SAMIDRC’s mandate is to help the Congolese army stabilise the eastern DRC, but Rwandan President Paul Kagame has labelled the regional force as ‘belligerent’.
What are the implications for the Great Lakes region? What are the drivers of the violence and what needs to be done to diffuse the acute situation and address decades-old drivers of violence in the region?
Speakers
- Stephanie Wolters, Senior Research Fellow, SAIIA
- Jakob Kerstan, Resident Representative DRC, Konrad Adenauer Foundation
- Kingsley Makhubela, Former Diplomat; Risk Analyst
- Fred Bauma, Director, Ebuteli Institute
- Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher, SAIIA
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