The security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains fragile. For several years, the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu have been the scene of repeated violence between the Congolese army and various armed groups, including M23. This Saturday, January 3, 2026, in Kinshasa, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo presented to the national and international press seven Rwandan soldiers and eight civilians captured during operations in the east of the country. The Democratic Republic of the Congo states that these arrests constitute new evidence of external aggression, linked to the M23 rebel movement, which has been active in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu since hostilities resumed in November 2021.
This Saturday, January 3, in Kinshasa, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo presented to the national and international press seven Rwandan soldiers and eight civilians captured during operations in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. According to Congolese authorities, these arrests constitute new evidence of the aggression that the DRC claims to be facing, linked to the M23 rebel movement. The conflict in the east of the country has already caused the displacement of more than 1.2 million people, and recent clashes have resulted in 74 civilians killed and more than 80 injured according to the UN. The Democratic Republic of the Congo states that securing its borders and protecting its population remain an absolute priority, while M23 continues to pose a major threat to regional stability.
The DRC has always stated with evidence that it is being aggressed by Rwanda. Today, the FARDC invited you to present seven Rwandan soldiers and eight civilians from countries in the sub-region, captured during military operations in North and South Kivu.
Behind these events lie complex regional stakes. The Congolese government accuses the Rwandan army of direct or indirect interventions, which, according to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, constitutes a violation of national sovereignty and undermines recent peace efforts. These tensions occur in a context where M23 had already captured Goma in January 2025, provoking a massive exodus of civilians. Despite ceasefire agreements and peace initiatives, fighting continues, and the presentation of these prisoners is part of an information strategy aimed at documenting and denouncing external interventions. Rwanda, for its part, has rejected these allegations, calling them a “staged show,” thus illustrating the political and media dimension accompanying the conflict on the ground.
Despite United Nations Security Council Resolution 27-73 and the signing of the Washington Agreement on December 4, 2025, Rwanda maintains its army on Congolese territory to this day.
Despite repeated calls for a ceasefire and regional negotiations, the violence in eastern DRC continues to destabilize the lives of local populations. Fighting between the Congolese army and rebel groups leads to mass displacements, complicates access to humanitarian aid, and highlights the security difficulties in this region. The Democratic Republic of the Congo affirms its determination to defend national sovereignty and protect its citizens, while regional and international actors closely monitor developments on the ground.