More than 7,000 civilians have perished in 2024 amid a violent escalation by M23 rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo, Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka warned during an urgent address to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The Rwandan-backed insurgents now control strategic cities including Goma and Bukavu, raising fears of nationwide destabilization.
The situation has reached alarming levels,Tuluka declared, highlighting how M23's rapid territorial gains threaten Congo's fragile governance. Analysts estimate the conflict zone contains over $24 trillion in untapped cobalt, gold, and coltan reserves - minerals critical for smartphones and electric vehicles.
Recent developments include:
- M23's capture of two provincial capitals since January
- 4,000 Rwandan troops reportedly reinforcing rebel positions
- Expanding violence near Uriva despite ceasefire demands
Witnesses in Goma describe chaotic security operations where 11 civilians were wrongly executed as suspected criminals last weekend. While M23 claims to combat ethnic discrimination against Tutsis, U.N. reports accuse Rwanda of using the group as proxies to control resource flows.
The humanitarian toll continues mounting, with:
- 2.8 million displaced since 2022
- 600+ villages destroyed this year
- Cholera outbreaks in overcrowded camps
President Félix Tshisekedi's government faces mounting pressure to reclaim eastern territories, but experts warn direct confrontation with Rwanda risks regional war. As global tech firms scramble to secure mineral supplies, international responses remain fragmented - a vacuum M23 continues exploiting through coordinated military campaigns.
