Chad

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Military & Security

Politics

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo requested military support from Chad in its fight against the Alliance for the Congo River, or AFC, a politico-military alliance led by the Rwandan-backed M23, Radio France Internationale reported on Feb. 19. 

Congo: Kinshasa Requests Military Support From Chad as AFC/M23 Sustains Gains in South Kivu

Burundi

Burundi is withdrawing its forces deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo against the Alliance for the Congo River, or AFC, a rebel alliance led by the Rwandan-backed M23, Reuters reported on Feb. 18.

Congo: Burundi Withdraws Troops Amid Infighting Among Pro-Government Forces Following Loss of Bukavu

The Rwandan-backed M23 seized the towns of Katana and Kavumu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Bukavu airport is located, Reuters reported on Feb. 14, quoting three different sources.

Congo: AFC/M23 Capture Bukavu Airport Despite Opening of Humanitarian Corridor Proposal, Church Initiative

South Africa

South Africa reportedly deployed 700-800 additional troops to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to support the Congolese army against the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group, Radio France Internationale reported on Feb. 12.

South Africa, Congo: South Africa Reinforces Troops in Congo

Malawi

The Rwandan-backed Alliance for the Congo River/M23 rebel coalition seized the Democratic Republic of the Congo's town of Nyabibwe in an apparent violation of the unilateral ceasefire the group declared on Feb. 3, but said the move was in response to attacks from the Congolese military, Reuters reported on Feb. 5.

Congo: Malawi Prepares Exit Despite Apparent Breach of Ceasefire as AFC/M23 Appoint Local Government Officials   

The Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebel coalition unilaterally declared that it would abide by a ceasefire with Congolese forces and their allies in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo from Feb. 4, citing humanitarian reasons and added that the group was not seeking to seize Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu, Reuters reported Feb. 3.

Congo: AFC/M23 Unilaterally Announces Ceasefire Ahead of Tshisekedi-Kagame Meeting

Uganda

Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye warned against a regionalization of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and accused Rwanda of "preparing something" against Burundi, Radio France Internationale reported on Feb. 2. 

Congo: Burundi Warns of Regional War as South African Forces Languish, Uganda Deploys Troops

South African Defense Minister Angie Motshekga said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had warned Rwandan President Paul Kagame that further fatalities among South African forces deployed to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo would be tantamount to a "declaration of war" and require Pretoria to "defend our people," the Financial Times reported on Jan. 30.

South Africa: Defense Minister Warns Rwanda Against More South African Troop Deaths in Congo

Assessments

Ethiopia

Kenya

United States

Israel

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Ukraine

Russia

Sri Lanka

Damage on Feb. 13 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

Economics

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Mideast Ceasefires and Arab Gaza Proposals, the AU Summit

Angola

An M23 fighter stands in the foreground as detained Congolese soldiers are loaded onto trucks on Jan. 30, 2025, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Unless the Congolese government agrees to enter direct talks, Rwanda-backed rebels will likely resume their advance toward the city of Bukavu, whose fall would expose Congo to mounting instability, including nationwide unrest and a potential military coup.

Fighting in Eastern Congo Reaches a Crossroads as Rebels Press Southward

Media

Podcasts

Essential Geopolitics: Increased Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tanzania

Americas

Brazil

Colombia

Cuba

Haiti

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Iraq

Jordan

Syria

Yemen

Cambodia

China

Indonesia

Europe

North Macedonia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Serbia

Albania

Kosovo

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

India

The lobby of the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development is seen on Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 

Cuts to U.S.-funded humanitarian and development programs could worsen global health outcomes, destabilize security environments, accelerate democratic backsliding, and create opportunities for rival powers to expand their influence.

The Global Implications of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts

Canada

Mexico

United Kingdom

Trucks wait to enter United States on Nov. 26, 2024, at the Otay crossing port in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump's Tariffs, Congo Braces for More Fighting in the East

A member of the M23 armed group walks alongside residents through a neighborhood in Goma, eastern Congo, on Jan. 27, 2025. 

The M23's entry into the eastern city will give Tshisekedi little choice but to engage in politically risky talks with the Rwanda-backed rebel group, or allow the conflict to expand and escalate.

M23 Advances in Goma Put Congo's President in a Tight Spot

South Sudan

Central African Republic

Mozambique

A Rwandan soldier walks in front of a burned truck near Palma in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region on Sept. 22, 2021. 

Rwanda’s expanding troop deployments in other African countries seek to enhance its regional political and economic influence, but entail risks that could harm its operations and reputation.

Rwanda's Growing Military Influence in Africa: Opportunities and Risks

What is the future trajectory of the peace process?

Essential Geopolitics: Implications of Cancelled Peace Talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda

South Korea

Germany

A sign reading ''leader of insurgents'' on a photo of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's face is held up during a protest calling for Yoon's ouster in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 8, 2024. 

The Weekly Rundown: Putin's Annual Press Conference, Another Impeachment Vote in South Korea

Zambia

Marshall Islands

Palau

Taiwan

Tuvalu

U.S. President Joe Biden and President Joao Lourenco of Angola on Nov. 30, 2023, at the White House. Biden on Dec. 2-4 will visit Angola, where he will focus on the Lobito Corridor project that aims to refurbish and expand railways connecting critical mineral-rich regions in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the Angolan port of Lobito.

U.S.-China Relations

The Weekly Rundown: Biden Visits Angola, von der Leyen's Second Term

Workers move batches of copper sheets on July 6, 2016, in Mufulira, Zambia. Zambia's copper output will likely steadily increase by the late 2020s on the back of a more stable tax environment and a global rush for critical minerals, but the country faces an uphill battle to meet its 2032 copper production target.

Zambia's copper output will likely steadily increase by the late 2020s on the back of a more stable tax environment and a global rush for critical minerals, but the country faces an uphill battle to meet its 2032 copper production target.

Zambia Banks on the Green Rush for Copper 

Botswana

Comoros

Lesotho

Madagascar

Mauritius

Namibia

Seychelles

Eswatini

Zimbabwe

Egypt

Iran

Qatar

Vietnam

France

Yael Braun-Pivet, a French lawmaker for the ruling Renaissance party, delivers a speech after being reelected as National Assembly president following the third round of voting on July 18, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: France Resumes Political Horse-Trading, Blinken Returns to Middle East

<p>The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a massive country in Central Africa. It is bordered by the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; and the Republic of the Congo to the west. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is roughly the size of Western Europe, and much of its territory is covered by dense jungle and is difficult to navigate. Its mammoth size and position in Central Africa have long drawn interest from outsiders. From the French and Belgian imperial conquests of the Congo River in the 19th and early 20th centuries to Cold War superpower intrigue and regional wars in the post-independence period, the country has attracted more than its fair share of foreign meddling. Since independence, the country has struggled to manage its extensive territories and its ethnic and regional divisions. It can be said that under the best of circumstances, the country is weak and prone to internal cleavages. Kinshasa, the political capital, simply does not have the resources to exercise a monopoly on force. By extension, the country&#39;s infrastructure remains woefully underdeveloped. Instead, the decades since independence have seen countless rebellions and other forms of insurrection in Katanga and other regions. Given this instability, the country&#39;s deep pockets of natural resources and its security vacuums have made it an attractive place for neighboring states and foreign powers to intrude. In regional terms, this has included Rwanda, Uganda and many other states over the years, and the United States and the Soviet Union fought for influence there after 1960. Additionally, the U.N. presence in the Congo is one of the longest-running operations for the international organization, tracing its origins back to 1960. The country&#39;s unwieldy size and difficult terrain profoundly constrain any movement beyond its status as a failed state. As such, it will remain a source of interest and concern for states near and far for many years to come.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Congo: Kinshasa Requests Military Support From Chad as AFC/M23 Sustains Gains in South Kivu

Congo: Burundi Withdraws Troops Amid Infighting Among Pro-Government Forces Following Loss of Bukavu

Congo: AFC/M23 Capture Bukavu Airport Despite Opening of Humanitarian Corridor Proposal, Church Initiative

South Africa, Congo: South Africa Reinforces Troops in Congo

Congo: Malawi Prepares Exit Despite Apparent Breach of Ceasefire as AFC/M23 Appoint Local Government Officials

Congo: AFC/M23 Unilaterally Announces Ceasefire Ahead of Tshisekedi-Kagame Meeting

Congo: Burundi Warns of Regional War as South African Forces Languish, Uganda Deploys Troops

South Africa: Defense Minister Warns Rwanda Against More South African Troop Deaths in Congo

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support