UN Security Council condemns M23 offensive in eastern DR Congo, demands Rwanda troop withdrawal

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United Nations  — The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the latest offensive by the M23 armed group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), demanding an immediate halt to hostilities and the “without delay” withdrawal of Rwandan military forces from Congolese territory.

AfricaHeadline Reports Team
editorial@africaheadline.com 

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council warned that the military escalation, including the capture of the city of Uvira in South Kivu, poses a serious risk of regional destabilisation, endangers millions of civilians and undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore peace in the Great Lakes region

The resolution states that M23 is operating with the “direct support and participation” of the Rwanda Defence Force, an accusation Kigali has consistently denied but which is backed by findings from UN expert reports. The Council demanded that the rebel group immediately end its territorial expansion in both North Kivu and South Kivu and dismantle any parallel administrations established in occupied areas 

Beyond the military condemnation, the Security Council expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis, marked by mass displacement, severe food insecurity and a sharp rise in conflict-related sexual violence. Three territories in eastern DRC have now entered the emergency phase of acute food insecurity, while humanitarian funding continues to decline significantly 

The resolution also reinforced the mandate of the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), extending it until December 2026 with the protection of civilians as its top priority. The mission is authorised to take “all necessary measures” to carry out its mandate, amid what the Council described as increasingly complex security threats, including the use of kamikaze drones and GPS jamming systems in areas controlled by M23 

On the diplomatic front, the Council reaffirmed its support for regional and international mediation efforts led by the African Union, as well as the peace agreements signed recently in Washington and Doha. It urged both the DRC and Rwanda to implement these commitments “in good faith and without delay,” warning that failure to do so could prompt further international action 

The Security Council concluded by stressing that the situation in eastern DRC continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security, saying it remains “actively seized of the matter” and ready to consider additional measures should its demands go unmet 

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