Negotiations between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23

South Africa has been involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the late 1990s, particularly in the context of conflicts in the Great Lakes region. An important milestone was South Africa's participation in the peace efforts following the Second Congo War (1998–2003), also known as the "African World War." South Africa played a significant role in brokering the 2002 Sun City Peace Agreement, which led to the formation of a transitional government in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, South Africa has consistently provided political, diplomatic, and military support, particularly through African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions. For example, South African troops participated in the UN mission MONUSCO, which aims to promote stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo. South African troops are stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and have previously fought against the M23 rebel movement. The M23 is an armed group active in eastern DRC and has repeatedly sparked conflicts in the region. The M23 rebellion was an armed conflict in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, between the March 23 Movement and government forces. The rebellion was part of the ongoing fighting in the region following the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2003. It erupted in 2012 and lasted until 2013, when a peace agreement was reached among eleven African nations and the M23 forces in Uganda surrendered. Who are these rebels? It's a rebel group that calls itself M23. The name derives from the date. The March 23 Movement, abbreviated as M23 and also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army, is a military rebel group based in the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), primarily operating in North Kivu province. The rebels were active in North Kivu province, fighting against government troops in the Rutshuru and Masisi regions. M23 is a revolutionary movement in Congo that fights: 1. For the survival of Tutsis killed by FDLR, 2. Against injustice, insecurity and poor governance of the Tshisekedi regime 3. For the repatriation of refugees "What is happening to every Tutsi in the DRC? Hatred, tribalism, and xenophobia are flaws that must be eradicated in this country. The devil has taken over our country. We need brave men to make a difference" (Bertrand Bisimwa). The M23 remains one of the most prominent and best-organized groups in the region, but its activities are embedded in a much larger network of conflicts and interests. Most people only report on M23, but there are other groups that have joined M23, such as AFC. The head of AFC is Corneille Nangaa. M23 has links to other Tutsi-dominated groups in the region that pursue similar goals, such as protecting the Tutsi minority in the DR Congo and controlling resources. The genocide of the Tutsi, also known as the Rwandan genocide, took place in 1994. During this period of approximately 100 days (from April 7 to mid-July 1994), an estimated 800,000 to 1 million people were systematically murdered, including primarily members of the Tutsi ethnic group, but also moderate Hutu who opposed the genocide. The roots of the conflict date back to the colonial era, when the Belgian colonial rulers placed the Tutsi as a privileged group over the Hutu. This created deep ethnic tensions. After Rwanda's independence in 1962, the Hutu took power and the Tutsi were increasingly discriminated against and persecuted. In the early 1990s, the situation escalated when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-dominated rebel movement, invaded Rwanda from Uganda to overthrow the regime. The genocide was triggered by the shooting down of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana's plane on April 6, 1994, which served as the catalyst for the violence. The Hutu Power movement, including the government, the military, and the Interahamwe militias, organized and carried out the genocide. Radio propaganda and hate speech played a central role in mobilizing the population. Tutsis were killed en masse, often by neighbors, friends, or even family members. The violence was extremely brutal and included machete killings, rape, and the destruction of property. The international community's response was hesitant and inadequate. The UN peacekeeping mission UNAMIR had a limited mandate and was unable to stop the genocide. Only after the RPF under Paul Kagame took control of the country did the genocide end in July 1994. The genocide had profound effects on Rwanda and the entire region. Many perpetrators fled to neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they continued to fuel conflict. In Rwanda, a reconciliation process aimed at justice and reconstruction was initiated. The government under Paul Kagame has since emphasized that ethnic identity (Hutu, Tutsi, Twa) should no longer play a role. The genocide of the Tutsi is one of the darkest chapters in human history and is remembered worldwide today as a warning against hatred, racism and ethnic violence. Following this genocide, Tshisekedi, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, worked with the Tutsis for two years with the M23 (also known as the March 23 Movement), which was founded in 2012. The name refers to the date of March 23, 2009, when a peace agreement was signed between the Congolese government and the former rebel group CNDP (National Congress for the Defense of the People). The M23 rebels claimed that the Congolese government was not complying with this agreement, which led to the group's creation, and negotiated in Kinshasa. It was promised that the M23 would be incorporated into the Democratic Republic of Congo's tégular militia, but this has not happened to date. In 2021, the M23 resurfaced and began carrying out attacks in North Kivu. Since then, the group has intensified its activities and controls parts of the region. The MONUSCO mission, in which South Africa participates, has, among other things, the mandate to support the Congolese government in stabilizing the country and combating armed groups such as the M23. South African soldiers have been involved in various operations against the M23 and other rebel groups in recent years, particularly in the unstable North Kivu region. The M23 has fought heavy battles with Congolese government troops (FARDC) and UN peacekeepers, including South African units, in the past. The rebels were temporarily defeated, but the group has been active again since 2021, reigniting conflict in the region. South Africa's engagement in the Democratic Republic of Congo is part of its regional peace and security policy, which aims to promote stability in Africa. However, the exact role of South African troops depends on current developments and the mandates of the MONUSCO mission. Fighting between the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and M23 fighters erupted again in January 2025, reportedly killing more than 7,000 people and forcing thousands to flee their homes. South African troops were forced to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo. This South African intervention resulted in several casualties, which led to considerable debate in South Africa. Ranaphosa met with Kagame, after which he stated that this conflict could not be resolved militarily. It took a year for Ranaphosa to withdraw his troops from Congo. Latest news from DR Congo: Heavy fighting between the Rwandan-backed M23 and the Burundian army Ceasefire talks between DR Congo and M23 rebels on March 18 in Luanda, Angola.