The protracted fighting in North Kivu, Congo, has come to a crucial turning point when UN peacekeepers decide to delay their scheduled pullout while Rwandan troops continue to be present. This comes at a time when the region’s violence is on the rise and more than a million people have been forced from their homes.
Congo’s foreign minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, highlighted the difficulties of starting the UN’s gradual withdrawal from the country in a recent remark. Wagner says the withdrawal is a top priority, but it needs to happen in the correct circumstances, which are now being impeded by military operations in Rwanda. Wagner’s comments draw attention to a volatile situation in which regional power dynamics and international disagreements persistently undermine peace efforts.
M23 militia, backed by Rwanda, has been leading a deadly conflict in North Kivu, which has been a center of unrest. According to recent UN assessments, between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan soldiers are actively helping the M23 militia against the Congolese army, which has resulted in major destabilization of the region. Rwanda has continuously denied any role in providing the militia with armed backing, even in the face of these charges.
The UN mission’s exit criteria have not yet been met, as stated by the Congolese government, further complicating an already sensitive peace process. The region’s ongoing instability and unpredictability are highlighted by the absence of a defined pullout schedule.
The international community’s reaction has been one of cautious observation, with many countries and organizations watching closely as tensions between Congo and Rwanda remain high. The Congolese government has been vocal in its calls for international sanctions against Rwandan leaders believed to be supporting the M23’s activities.
Bintou Keita, head of the UN mission known as MONUSCO, has expressed that there is no definitive schedule for the withdrawal, originally requested by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi last September. The mission’s gradual exit began with the removal of peacekeepers from South Kivu in June, marking a significant but partial progression in the broader pullout strategy.
Wagner has taken a leading role in bringing attention to the world’s attention to Rwanda’s dual role in regional crises, particularly its reported warmongering in the Great Lakes region and its backing for peace operations in other countries. Her remarks are in line with the increasing doubts of foreign observers and Congolese officials on Rwanda’s role in the crisis.
The ongoing violence in North Kivu has led to the displacement of more than 1.7 million people, with the total number of displaced persons in Congo rising to a staggering 7.2 million due to various conflicts. This humanitarian crisis underscores the urgent need for a coordinated and effective response to restore stability and peace in the region.
