Rwanda maintains direct command and control over M23 rebels operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a confidential report by United Nations experts. The report, seen by Reuters, paints a detailed picture of Kigali’s deep military involvement—alleging that Rwanda has supplied arms, trained recruits, and even directed key battlefield decisions as the rebel group expanded into mineral-rich territory.
The experts say Rwanda’s military presence was decisive in the group’s January–February seizure of major cities including Goma and Bukavu. The findings directly contradict Kigali’s longstanding claims that its troops only act in self-defense against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a Hutu militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Instead, the UN report concludes Rwanda’s backing of M23 was aimed “not primarily” at countering the FDLR, but rather at securing political influence and territorial control. Among the most serious allegations: Rwandan forces have deployed advanced weaponry, including systems capable of downing aircraft, and drastically increased troop numbers in eastern Congo—estimated at 6,000 during M23’s offensive.
Rwanda’s government and its UN mission declined to comment.
Sanctions Violations and Direct Orders
The report, submitted to the UN Security Council sanctions committee in May, accuses Rwanda of “flagrant and systematic” violations of the arms embargo in place for eastern Congo. It also links Kigali to a likely missile strike in January that killed a UN peacekeeper and injured four others, suggesting the projectile came from a Rwandan military position.
In a stark example of Kigali’s alleged battlefield role, the experts say M23’s sudden April withdrawal from the strategic mining area of Walikale was made “following direct instruction from the Government of Rwanda.” The move, they argue, further confirms Kigali’s operational control over the group, extending even to strategic decisions on territorial gains and withdrawals.
U.S. and Qatar Mediation Efforts
The revelations come amid a diplomatic push led by the Trump administration to de-escalate the crisis and open the region to Western investment. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Rwandan and Congolese foreign ministers last week for the signing of a peace deal in Washington, warning that “very severe penalties, financial and otherwise” would follow if either side broke the agreement.
Qatar is simultaneously hosting parallel talks involving Congolese officials and M23 representatives.
The region—rich in tantalum, cobalt, copper, lithium, gold, and other critical minerals—has long been a flashpoint for conflict fueled by resource competition and political rivalries.
Congo’s Own Violations
While the report is scathing in its assessment of Rwanda, the UN experts also fault Congo’s government for partnering with sanctioned groups. They say Congolese authorities have provided the FDLR and pro-government Wazalendo militias with cash and logistical support in violation of existing UN sanctions.
Kinshasa has not yet commented on the allegations.
Strategic Stakes Rising
M23’s rapid gains earlier this year had stoked fears of a broader regional conflict and raised alarms in Kinshasa about the stability of President Félix Tshisekedi’s government. At one point, rebel forces had pushed as far west as Walikale—just 400 kilometers from Kisangani, Congo’s fourth-largest city.
Although the rebels later withdrew, the UN says thousands of Rwandan troops remain positioned along the border and inside M23-held areas, leaving the possibility of renewed conflict hanging in the balance.
The full UN report is expected to be released publicly in the coming weeks.