Kinshasa: The security crisis in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has intensified as rebel groups, the Congo River Alliance (AFC) and the 23 March Movement (M23), forge a strategic alliance against the ruling regime. This collaboration presents significant challenges to the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), which is striving to suppress the insurrection.
According to Global Voices, the AFC comprises former members of the Peoples Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD), previously led by ex-President Joseph Kabila. The M23 remains a dominant rebel faction in the area. In January 2025, these groups captured Goma and Bukavu, establishing a parallel government headquartered in Goma, North Kivu. This administration, led by Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, and Sultani Makenga, is focusing on mining operations to support their military activities.
A report by the Oakland Institute, a California-based think tank, reveals that the rebels are seizing mines to fund their operations, with Rwanda providing military and logistical support. The report highlights the severe humanitarian impact, noting millions of deaths, widespread violence, and significant population displacement. Rwanda and the rebel groups have taken control of mineral-rich areas in North and South Kivu, exacerbating the local crisis.
Currently, insurgents control key mining sites, including Walikale, rich in coltan and cassiterite; the Bisie tin mines; the coltan-rich Rubaya mines; and the Lueshe mine, known for pyrochlore. They also occupy gold-rich zones in Lubero and control South Kivu’s Lumbishi, abundant in tourmaline, coltan, and gold.
The AFC and M23 claim to separate their military ambitions from mining, as stated by coordinator Corneille Nangaa in a press briefing. However, the Oakland Institute report indicates otherwise, noting the export of coltan from Rubaya to Rwanda. The United Nations Security Council has condemned these activities in its assessment.
In response, the FARDC conducted a drone strike on October 23, 2025, targeting the gold-producing Twangiza Mining site. The facility, previously owned by a Canadian consortium and later acquired by Chinese investors, had been abandoned due to the rebel presence. Over five months, rebels reportedly extracted gold worth approximately 70 million USD from the site.
Despite diplomatic efforts, including a collapsed peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, Congolese authorities continue to denounce Rwandan support for the rebels. The United States has intervened, with KoBold Metal securing rights to Manono’s lithium deposits, as part of broader conflict resolution efforts by the Trump administration. However, DRC President F©lix Tshisekedi acknowledges the ongoing conflict, expressing support for Donald Trump’s potential Nobel Peace Prize nomination if he succeeds in ending the war.
In a recent development, AlJazeera reports that M23 rebels and the DRC government have signed a framework peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, seeking to resolve years of conflict.