Key facts
- UN experts reported that all parties in eastern Congo's conflict are violating peace terms and committing abuses.
- The Congolese army, M23 rebels, and their Rwandan backers have failed to implement a December peace agreement.
- Rwandan troops are estimated to be present in significant numbers in eastern Congo, violating the agreement.
- M23 rebels control territory and are linked to conflict-related sexual violence and mineral smuggling.
- The U.S. sanctioned a Rwanda-based gold refinery for its alleged coordination with M23.
United Nations experts have reported that all parties involved in the escalating conflict in eastern Congo are violating peace agreements and committing abuses, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press. The Congolese army, the M23 rebel group, and their Rwandan backers have failed to adhere to a peace deal initiated in December.
The experts noted that the Congolese army continues to collaborate with the FDLR, a Hutu rebel group with ties to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, despite promises to cease such cooperation. Rwanda has maintained a significant military presence in eastern Congo, with estimates of 8,000 to 10,000 troops in South Kivu and 6,000 to 8,000 in North Kivu, in violation of the peace accord.
Furthermore, the M23 group, which is supported by Rwanda, has not withdrawn from occupied territories as agreed. Instead, it maintains control over significant areas, engages in mineral smuggling to fund a parallel economy, and is identified as the primary perpetrator of conflict-related sexual violence. The U.S. recently imposed sanctions on Gasabo Gold Refinery, a Rwanda-based entity, for its alleged coordination with M23 in eastern Congo.
Congo has also taken legal action, filing a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice, accusing its neighbor of responsibility for the ongoing violence.