The President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, has called for a massive military mobilization to counter the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who continue to expand their control in the country’s east. Meanwhile, a regional summit has urged the Congolese government to engage in talks with the insurgents. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has warned of retaliation against any confrontation with South Africa over the conflict.

In a speech on Wednesday evening, Tshisekedi vowed a “vigorous and coordinated response” to push back the rebels while reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful resolution. “Enlist massively in the army because you are the spearhead of our country,” he urged young Congolese.

Growing Tensions in Goma and Bukavu

On Thursday, many neighborhoods in Goma were left without water and electricity. Bodies of government soldiers were seen lying in the streets as horrified residents, including children, looked on.

With the city of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, under threat of a rebel advance, witnesses reported gunfire and explosions in Mukwinja, a town 135 km from Bukavu. The Congolese military has repositioned its forces, vacating several military bases to reinforce strategic positions.

At the same time, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) reported large-scale looting of food stocks and warehouses in Goma, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Diplomatic Developments

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Kinshasa on Thursday and may visit Rwanda next, according to diplomatic sources cited by the Congolese government press agency.

A summit of the East African Community (EAC) called for an immediate ceasefire and urged Kinshasa to engage in dialogue with M23. However, Tshisekedi was absent from the virtual meeting, which included Rwanda among its participants.

Tensions between South Africa and Rwanda are also rising. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accused the Rwandan army of being responsible for clashes that led to the deaths of 13 South African peacekeepers in the DRC. Kagame reacted sharply, calling South African troops a “belligerent force” and warning that Rwanda would respond to any confrontation.

Who Are the M23 Rebels and What Do They Want?

M23 is one of the many armed groups operating in eastern DRC, a region rich in natural resources valued at an estimated $24 trillion. According to UN experts, the rebels are supported by around 4,000 Rwandan troops—significantly more than in 2012 when they briefly occupied Goma.

Claiming to defend Congolese Tutsis, M23 has stated its intention to establish an administration and facilitate the return of displaced people. However, the current tensions trace their roots back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred.

Observers believe that unlike in 2012, a withdrawal of the rebels may be far more difficult this time. According to Murithi Mutiga, Africa Program Director at the Crisis Group think tank, “this crisis is the result of a failure in African mediation.” He added, “The warning signs were there—both Kigali and Kinshasa were adopting increasingly aggressive rhetoric.”

With the conflict escalating and more regional players becoming involved, the threat of a wider war looms over Central Africa.