Since January 2025 around 7,000 people have died in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as Rwanda-backed M23 (March 23 Movement) rebels renewed advances in the region. 

Carlos Mureithi observes how the situation has deteriorated in the region, noting ‘at a high-level meeting of the UN’s human rights council in Geneva on Monday, Judith Suminwa Tuluka ... said the war had left about 450,000 people without shelter after the destruction of 90 displacement camps. At the start of the year, the M23 militia embarked on a fast advance in eastern DRC, fighting the Congolese army and capturing two of the region’s largest cities Goma and Bukavu … It was the worst escalation in more than a decade of the long-running conflict in the region and risked drawing in neighbouring countries and leading to a regional war. The conflict, which has raged despite calls for a ceasefire, has exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the region. In Goma alone, a city of 2 million people and a humanitarian hub for those who have been displaced, the fighting killed nearly 3,000. Those injured have overwhelmed medical facilities, with patients with gunshot and shrapnel wounds cramming into hospitals.’ (Mureithi.2025) As Mureithi has concluded, M23 militia has already captured two of the largest cities in eastern DRC and this is raising fears of an all out regional war that could devastate the DRC and neighbouring countries.

Wedaeli Chibelushi highlights how the situation in Congo has made DR Congo’s Tutsi’s ‘foreigners’ in their own country. As Chibelushi finds ‘the constitution considers the Tutsi and Banyamulenge groups to be Congolese and some individuals from these communities occupy senior military and governance positions. In fact, Lt-Gen Pacifique Masunzu, the man leading the fight against the M23 as the commander of a key area in eastern DR Congo, is from the Banyamulenge community. But there is still significant evidence of discrimination. In 2024, experts working for the UN said that in South Kivu, Banyamulenge are commonly seen as harmful to their neighbouring communities. This discourse incites "hatred, discrimination, hostility and violence", the experts said … There have also been recent reports of Tutsi and Banyamulenge soldiers in the Congolese army being murdered … Anti-Tutsi feelings appear to rise during M23 rebellions, say DR Congo experts such as Mr Stearns … The Congolese government has gone some way in acknowledging the discrimination against Tutsis. For instance, earlier this year President Félix Tshisekedi said he had "had enough" of anti-Banyamulenge speech and alleged that such comments gave Rwanda the pretext to invade DR Congo … However, the authorities have also played down allegations of widespread persecution. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya told the BBC: "We have 450 tribes and there is conflict between some of them in many parts of the country... The government position is against any kind of discrimination or hate speech against every community".’ (Chibelushi.2025) As Chibelushi argues, the Tutsi population of eastern DRC is at great risk of this recent rise in the escalation of violence. Furthermore, certain authorities appear to be minimising allegations of widespread persecution which could lead to further escalations of violence against the Tutsi community. 

The situation is concerning for all civilians in eastern DRC and there is a great need for further UNSC pressure to abate the violence. Furthermore, international powers can also help stem the conflict by increasing pressure on Rwanda through sanctions and diplomatic channels.