DR Congo Conflict & M23 Crisis
Recent Developments
0111 February 2026: Angola announced ceasefire between DRC government and M23, effective 18 February, within Doha framework
022 February 2026: M23 conducted drone attack on Kisangani airport; group claimed responsibility, alleging airport used for aerial operations
03Late February 2026: Both parties accused each other of ceasefire violations; fighting resumed around Minembwe in South Kivu highlands
04February 2026: M23 recaptured Kasenyi and three nearby villages (Luke, Katabotobo, Chugi) after heavy fighting in Masisi district, North Kivu
0519 December 2025: UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2808, renewing MONUSCO mandate until 20 December 2026
0627 June 2025: DRC and Rwanda signed US-mediated peace agreement in Washington
Interventions
- MONUSCO (UN peacekeeping mission) mandate renewed through December 2026 to monitor ceasefire and provide oversight
- Doha process: Qatar-led mediation facilitating talks between Congolese government and M23
- Angolan-mediated ceasefire framework established February 2026
- US-mediated peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda (signed June 2025); US sanctioning Rwandan Defence Force for continued support to M23
- US-DRC security cooperation: $1.2 billion memorandum of understanding for health cooperation signed
What Works
- International mediation through multiple channels (Angola, Qatar, US) has achieved temporary ceasefires, though enforcement remains challenging
- UN peacekeeping presence (MONUSCO) provides monitoring and verification mechanisms for ceasefire agreements
- Multilateral pressure including US sanctions on Rwanda and UN Security Council resolutions calling for RDF withdrawal have prompted some tactical shifts (e.g., M23 withdrawal from Uvira in January)
How to Help
- Support humanitarian organizations providing aid to displaced populations and conflict-affected civilians in eastern DRC
- Advocate for sustained international pressure on Rwanda to cease military support to M23 and withdraw forces from DRC territory
- Contribute to organizations monitoring human rights abuses and documenting war crimes for accountability mechanisms
- Support peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives led by regional organizations and international mediators
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(13)
Human Rights Watch monitors and documents escalating armed conflict, political violence, attacks on civilians, indiscriminate aerial bombardments, intercommunal violence, and humanitarian crises in South Sudan through detailed investigations and reporting. They highlight civilian casualties, displacement, sexual violence, and food insecurity, while advocating for accountability, cessation of hostilities, and international action to address violations by government forces, opposition groups like SPLA-IO and NAS, and urging compliance with peace agreements.
OCHA coordinates the humanitarian response in eastern DRC by leading the Humanitarian Response Plan, mobilizing and coordinating UN and NGO partners, conducting needs and population movement analysis, advocating for unimpeded humanitarian access, and managing funding appeals to close gaps in emergency assistance (food, health, shelter, protection). OCHA also publishes situation and displacement reports that guide operational priorities and donor engagement, and facilitates cluster coordination (health, protection, WASH, etc.) to align partner activities on the ground.
The ICRC supports hospitals in conflict-affected areas by providing essential medical supplies, funding running costs, and aiding in the delivery of care amid widespread facility closures (70-80% non-functional). For instance, they supplied Al Saudi Hospital in Al Fasher—the last functioning civilian hospital—before its January 2025 attack, helping sustain services for thousands despite looting, violence against staff, and denial of access.
NRC provides life-saving aid in Myanmar by distributing shelter materials, non-food items, and cash to 500,000+ displaced people from the civil war; they run education programs for children in IDP sites, improve water and sanitation, and offer information counseling to help families navigate conflict zones, with operations in Shan, Kachin, and Rakhine states despite access challenges.
