At the African Union (AU) summit on Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned against the regional escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As tensions continue to rise in the eastern DRC, Guterres emphasized that preventing further escalation must be a top priority for both African and international leaders.
The summit, attended by representatives from all 55 AU member states, was held as the M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, continued their advance in the DRC. The rebels claimed on Friday to have captured Bukavu, the second-largest city in South Kivu province, exacerbating fears that the conflict could spread throughout the entire Great Lakes region of Africa.
“The fighting that is raging in South Kivu, as a result of the continuation of the M23 offensive, threatens to push the entire region over the precipice,” Guterres warned during his address. He called for immediate de-escalation, stressing that the conflict’s deadlock could only be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic efforts, rather than military action. “There is no military solution. The deadlock must end, the dialogue must begin, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected,” he urged.
The M23 rebellion, which began in 2012, has recently gained momentum, capturing vast swathes of the mineral-rich eastern DRC. The rebels, largely composed of ethnic Tutsis, have seized important strategic locations, including the key city of Goma, which serves as the capital of North Kivu province. This offensive has drawn widespread international condemnation, with many accusing Rwanda of providing support to the rebels—a claim that Rwanda has consistently denied. Rwanda, in turn, has accused Hutu extremist groups operating in the DRC of posing a direct security threat to Rwanda.
President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC, who has been vocal in seeking international intervention, continues to plead for support in his country’s fight against the M23 rebels. Tshisekedi has called for Rwanda to be held accountable for its role in backing the rebels, and although he did not attend the summit, his government has called on the international community to take a stronger stance against Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict.
In contrast, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame attended the AU summit and defended his country’s actions, pointing to the security threat posed by armed groups in eastern DRC, particularly the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed mainly of Hutu extremists who were involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Kagame has repeatedly stated that Rwanda has no direct involvement in the M23 rebellion, though the DRC government and several international observers contend that Rwanda is indirectly supporting the group.
The escalating violence in eastern DRC has prompted concerns that the conflict could spill over into neighboring countries, further destabilizing the region. There are growing fears that if left unchecked, the violence could lead to even larger regional consequences, potentially drawing in countries such as Uganda and Burundi, who have also been involved in past conflicts in the area.
As the AU summit unfolded, the lack of decisive action from the organization’s leaders has been a point of contention. Many observers have criticized the AU for its inability to take a stronger and more unified stance against the M23 rebels and their backers. Calls for a more robust peacekeeping mission and stronger diplomatic efforts to hold Rwanda accountable have grown louder, with the international community urging the AU to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to prevent further bloodshed.
The conflict in the DRC is set to continue dominating discussions on the international stage as leaders at the AU summit grapple with how best to address the growing instability in the region. For now, the fate of the DRC and its people remains uncertain, as the M23 rebels show no signs of retreating. The world watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution before the situation deteriorates further.
