Un report unveils persistent rwandan military aid to afc/m23 in eastern drc

The AFC/M23 rebellion, which maintains control over vast areas of Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces, is reportedly still receiving substantial military backing from the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF). This support aids their ongoing operations and strengthens their hold on strategic positions across the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. These findings were once again highlighted in a recent report by the United Nations Group of Experts, submitted to the Security Council Committee on May 8, 2026, and subsequently reviewed on June 5, 2026.

According to the comprehensive document, the Group of Experts has meticulously documented the continuous presence of RDF personnel and the arrival of fresh reinforcements in both Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu. The report also details the RDF’s active engagement on multiple fronts, leveraging advanced military technologies, state-of-the-art equipment, and sophisticated air warfare capabilities. This sustained operational assistance to the AFC/M23 includes the rapid deployment of specialized assets such as drones, electronic warfare tools, and elite special forces.

Crucially, the report notes that RDF operations have been observed in regions where no presence of the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) had been reported, particularly in Uvira. This observation directly challenges Kigali’s justification for its military intervention, which it has consistently framed as legitimate self-defense measures.

The document states: “As of December 2025, the RDF deployment in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was conservatively estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 troops in Sud-Kivu and 6,000 to 8,000 in Nord-Kivu, with no indication of a significant withdrawal thereafter. Subsequent movements primarily involved rotations and further reinforcements up to the time the report was drafted.”

As previously detailed, the report emphasizes that the RDF has occupied key strategic forward positions, initiated offensives, and established operational corridors for the M23. UN experts confirm that every M23 combat unit operates under the supervision and direct support of the RDF.

“RDF personnel were integrated into mixed battalions alongside M23 elements, including commando units originating from Bigogwe, Rubavu, and Cyangugu. More recently, RDF elements deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun utilizing M23 uniforms to evade detection. For similar reasons, troop movements are predominantly conducted under the cover of night,” the United Nations Group of Experts report further clarifies. 

This critical new report emerges amidst a backdrop of escalating security and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, despite the existing Washington Agreement and a series of evaluation meetings. Tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali remain high, with each side interpreting the Washington Agreement’s provisions differently, complicating its implementation a year after its ministerial signing. Similarly, the Doha process, spearheaded by the State of Qatar, has struggled to bridge the fundamental divergences between Kinshasa and the Rwandan-backed Alliance du Fleuve Congo (AFC)/M23 rebellion through multiple rounds of discussions. The Montreux phase in Switzerland, intended to inject new momentum into the process, failed to deliver the anticipated outcomes. Commitments made during these negotiations have not been fully honored, and the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East has further overshadowed this critical dossier, thereby slowing mediation efforts.