Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

DRC
AFC-M23 rebels speed up their offensive in South Kivu

Published on 09.12.2025 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

M23 rebel soldiers in Goma, capital of North Kivu province, in May 2025. © Jospin Mwisha/AFP

While Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame were sealing a peace agreement in Washington, the AFC-M23 launched a series of attacks in South Kivu province. A confidential military memo details the scale of this new operation.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Spotlight | Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
From Washington to Kinshasa TotalEnergies tries to save Ruzizi III dam

For the hydroelectric project supported by the American administration to come to fruition, its shareholders are working to overcome Kinshasa's reluctance to accept the establishment of a demilitarised zone around the project.

Subscribers only Energy 01.04.2026

Donald Trump, Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi during peace agreement signing between Rwanda and DRC in Washington DC, 4 December 2025.

DRC
Kinshasa seeks to contain Kampala's influence in Ituri

Félix Tshisekedi's government has rejected requests made by the Ugandan army, which had called for the removal of the military governor of Ituri province in eastern DRC.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.03.2026

Members of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) in the border town of Bunagana, DRC on 30 March 2023.

Inner Circle | DRC
AFC-M23 appoints new civilian leaders to manage proto-state

Since its swift conquest in eastern DRC a year ago, the rebellion has been working to turn its military advances into lasting power. A handful of civilian leaders have been entrusted with managing the territories now under AFC-M23 control.

Subscribers only Politics 06.03.2026

Two of the rebel leaders, Corneille Nangaa and Bertrand Bisimwa.

DRC
How Tshisekedi chose candidate for La Francophonie

The president weighed his options and reviewed the contenders' backgrounds before settling on Juliana Amato Lumumba. With a woman bearing such an iconic surname, Kinshasa hopes to sway voters against the incumbent secretary general, Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo, who will be seeking a third term as head of the organisation.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 02.03.2026

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi in Paris on 25 February 2026.

DRC
Kinshasa dodges $54.5m penalty in US ruling

The DRC, which was ordered in absentia last June to pay millions of dollars to Material Aviation Technologie Navigation, recently obtained the annulment of the judgment on procedural grounds. Yet the case could soon be reopened.

Subscribers only Defence 19.02.2026

DRC
The low-key role played by Erik Prince's men in military operations in Uvira

The American billionaire who heads the private firm Vectus Global agreed in January to support operations carried out by the DRC armed forces aimed at retaking South Kivu's second largest city. Several of his men were present on the front line alongside Congolese soldiers.

Subscribers only Defence 02.02.2026

DRC
President Tshisekedi due in Abu Dhabi ahead of US trip

The Congolese leader, who is due in Washington next week to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, plans to visit the United Arab Emirates beforehand, where he is scheduled to meet with his Emirati counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Subscribers only Mining, Diplomacy 30.01.2026

UAE's President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his DRC counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi, on 24 January 2023.

DRC, Rwanda
AU facilitators on mission to mediate in crisis in the east

The panel of former heads of state designated as facilitators by the African Union under the peace process in eastern DRC is beginning a visit to Kinshasa and Kigali at the end of January.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 28.01.2026

DRC
Kinshasa considers candidate against Kigali at Francophonie organisation

Félix Tshisekedi's administration is seeking to counter the candidacy of Rwanda's Louise Mushikiwabo for a third term as Secretary General of the Paris-based body.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 16.01.2026

Spotlight | DRC
US banking company's $4bn lawsuit puts Tshisekedi in tight spot with Washington

Fintech firm PayServices is suing DR Congo in US courts over a collapsed state digitisation deal, alleging contract breaches and attempted bribery by top Congolese officials. The legal battle is embarrassing for President Tshisekedi as he courts US support on regional security.

Subscribers only Business 13.01.2026

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi (standing) and his American counterpart Donald Trump, in Washington, on 4 December 2025.

DRC
The potentially (very) lucrative market for licence plates

Belgian company Castillo Valere, which won the contract to manufacture 100,000 licence plates, could well be called on to go far beyond the initial order. Congolese authorities project demand at an additional 3 million units.

Subscribers only Business 07.01.2026

Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
Spy chiefs intervene to get Burundian forces out of DRC

The withdrawal of Burundian forces from Congolese territory was made possible by confidential talks between Burundian and Rwandan spymasters.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 22.12.2025

DRC, Rwanda
Tshisekedi and Kagame due in Washington to seal peace pact

Under pressure from the United States, the DRC president will travel to meet Donald Trump's team on 4 December and sign a peace agreement with his Rwandan counterpart. It's a risky move, given that M23 rebels still control large swathes of territory in the east of the country.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 27.11.2025

Donald Trump with a photo of himself alongside Rwanda and DRC's foreign ministers, in Washington, 27 June 2025

Burundi, DRC
Ndayishimiye's regime has its back to the wall in the face of M23

Caught between his support for Kinshasa, fears of supposed destabilisation hatched by Kigali, and the rebels' expansionist ambitions in Uvira, the Burundian president is hesitating over what move to make next.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 17.10.2025

Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye at Ingoma Stadium in Gitega Province, on 9 May 2025.

DRC
Tshisekedi presidency readjusts its strategy towards M23 at Doha talks

Fearing that the ongoing negotiations in Doha could lead to an impasse, the Congolese authorities are seeking to shift the responsibility for any failure onto M23.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 12.09.2025

DRC
The contours of peace deal between Kigali and Kinshasa take shape

Over three years after hostilities resumed with M23 rebels, the DRC and Rwanda are about to sign a peace deal in Washington. The ceremony sealing the deal will precede a meeting scheduled for late July at the White House between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 26.06.2025

Combination of pictures Rwanda's President Paul Kagame (L) and President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi (R).

Headlines

Spotlight | DRC Battle over control of digital plate registry holds back reform Inner Circle | Libya Misrata native Mohamed Raied moves on all fronts in business and politics

The Misurata Free Zone in Misrata, Libya, June 2022.

Guinea Conakry's unpaid bills leave army without South African vehicles Angola, Zimbabwe Businessman Pedro Soco's regional commodity push from Luanda to Harare Kenya Ruto moves to defuse backlash over US Ebola facility

Kenyan President William Ruto and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, in Washington on 4 December 2025.

Africa French foreign ministry finalises diplomatic reshuffle Kenya Cabinet secretary Kagwe forms committee for embattled tea industry

Kenya's Minister of Agriculture in Nairobi, in March 2020.

DRC Kinshasa's Francophonie candidate steps up bid in tour of Arab countries Chad N'Djamena races to replace ageing Kribi oil export platform Tunisia Mokhtar family differences delay diversification of Castel subsidiary

Headlines

Spotlight | DRC Battle over control of digital plate registry holds back reform Inner Circle | Libya Misrata native Mohamed Raied moves on all fronts in business and politics

Africa French foreign ministry finalises diplomatic reshuffle Kenya Cabinet secretary Kagwe forms committee for embattled tea industry

DRC
AFC-M23 rebels speed up their offensive in South Kivu

While Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame were sealing a peace agreement in Washington, the AFC-M23 launched a series of attacks in South Kivu province. A confidential military memo details the scale of this new operation.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Read also

Spotlight | Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
From Washington to Kinshasa TotalEnergies tries to save Ruzizi III dam

DRC
Kinshasa seeks to contain Kampala's influence in Ituri

Inner Circle | DRC
AFC-M23 appoints new civilian leaders to manage proto-state

DRC
How Tshisekedi chose candidate for La Francophonie

DRC
Kinshasa dodges $54.5m penalty in US ruling

DRC
The low-key role played by Erik Prince's men in military operations in Uvira

DRC
President Tshisekedi due in Abu Dhabi ahead of US trip

DRC, Rwanda
AU facilitators on mission to mediate in crisis in the east

DRC
Kinshasa considers candidate against Kigali at Francophonie organisation

Spotlight | DRC
US banking company's $4bn lawsuit puts Tshisekedi in tight spot with Washington

DRC
The potentially (very) lucrative market for licence plates

Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
Spy chiefs intervene to get Burundian forces out of DRC

DRC, Rwanda
Tshisekedi and Kagame due in Washington to seal peace pact

Burundi, DRC
Ndayishimiye's regime has its back to the wall in the face of M23

DRC
Tshisekedi presidency readjusts its strategy towards M23 at Doha talks

DRC
The contours of peace deal between Kigali and Kinshasa take shape

Headlines

Related topics to this article

Headlines

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

DRC AFC-M23 rebels speed up their offensive in South Kivu

While Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame were sealing a peace agreement in Washington, the AFC-M23 launched a series of attacks in South Kivu province. A confidential military memo details the scale of this new operation.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Read also

Spotlight | Burundi, DRC, Rwanda From Washington to Kinshasa TotalEnergies tries to save Ruzizi III dam

DRC Kinshasa seeks to contain Kampala's influence in Ituri

Inner Circle | DRC AFC-M23 appoints new civilian leaders to manage proto-state

DRC How Tshisekedi chose candidate for La Francophonie

DRC Kinshasa dodges $54.5m penalty in US ruling

DRC The low-key role played by Erik Prince's men in military operations in Uvira

DRC President Tshisekedi due in Abu Dhabi ahead of US trip

DRC, Rwanda AU facilitators on mission to mediate in crisis in the east

DRC Kinshasa considers candidate against Kigali at Francophonie organisation

Spotlight | DRC US banking company's $4bn lawsuit puts Tshisekedi in tight spot with Washington

DRC The potentially (very) lucrative market for licence plates

Burundi, DRC, Rwanda Spy chiefs intervene to get Burundian forces out of DRC

DRC, Rwanda Tshisekedi and Kagame due in Washington to seal peace pact

Burundi, DRC Ndayishimiye's regime has its back to the wall in the face of M23

DRC Tshisekedi presidency readjusts its strategy towards M23 at Doha talks

DRC The contours of peace deal between Kigali and Kinshasa take shape

Headlines

Related topics to this article

Headlines

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
AFC-M23 rebels speed up their offensive in South Kivu

Spotlight | Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
From Washington to Kinshasa TotalEnergies tries to save Ruzizi III dam

DRC
Kinshasa seeks to contain Kampala's influence in Ituri

Inner Circle | DRC
AFC-M23 appoints new civilian leaders to manage proto-state

DRC
How Tshisekedi chose candidate for La Francophonie

DRC
Kinshasa dodges $54.5m penalty in US ruling

DRC
The low-key role played by Erik Prince's men in military operations in Uvira

DRC
President Tshisekedi due in Abu Dhabi ahead of US trip

DRC, Rwanda
AU facilitators on mission to mediate in crisis in the east

DRC
Kinshasa considers candidate against Kigali at Francophonie organisation

Spotlight | DRC
US banking company's $4bn lawsuit puts Tshisekedi in tight spot with Washington

DRC
The potentially (very) lucrative market for licence plates

Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
Spy chiefs intervene to get Burundian forces out of DRC

DRC, Rwanda
Tshisekedi and Kagame due in Washington to seal peace pact

Burundi, DRC
Ndayishimiye's regime has its back to the wall in the face of M23

DRC
Tshisekedi presidency readjusts its strategy towards M23 at Doha talks

DRC
The contours of peace deal between Kigali and Kinshasa take shape