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The Rwandan-backed rebels have taken over a significant portion of eastern Congo, posing a threat to expand their operations to neighboring provinces, according to the top U.N. official in the country.

Bintou Keita, the U.N. special representative for Congo, briefed the U.N. Security Council on the worsening situation, specifically mentioning the M23 rebels’ establishment of an administration in South Kivu and a “mining delegate” in North Kivu, further linking the mineral exploitation to the ongoing conflicts in eastern Congo.

Keita also highlighted the dire circumstances faced by tens of thousands of Congolese fleeing the M23 attacks and the widespread human rights violations committed against civilians, including summary executions, rapes, and child recruitment.

Despite efforts towards a resolution, including an agreement between the presidents of Congo and Rwanda in Qatar, Keita emphasized that the called-for immediate and unconditional ceasefire has yet to materialize.

She called for the swift appointment of an African Union mediator to lead ceasefire efforts, mentioning that M23 now controls significant areas of North Kivu and South Kivu and poses a threat to further expand into Tshopo and Maniema provinces.

M23 and its allies have vowed to reach as far as Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, and advancing into Tshopo and Maniema would mark a significant step forward.

Keita, who heads the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo known as MONUSCO, stated that an analysis

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/28/drc-rwanda-backed-rebels-could-seize-more-provinces-un-warns/