Overview
- Briefing the Security Council on Thursday, the UN’s acting Congo envoy said clashes between M23/AFC and government forces are intensifying, with heavy weapons and offensive drones raising civilian risks, and she described M23 as backed by Rwanda’s army, a claim Rwanda disputes.
- Fighting has spread into Tshopo Province and toward Burundi’s border, with drone strikes and GPS signal tampering reported and incidents at Kisangani’s Bangoka Airport and in Goma.
- US-facilitated talks in Washington on March 17–18 produced steps to ease tensions, yet Council speakers pressed for an actual ceasefire and the reopening of Goma and Kavumu airports to restore humanitarian flights.
- MONUSCO says it will keep protecting civilians and support a phased, conditions-based ceasefire role under recent Council mandates, though access limits and funding cuts have left fewer than 8,000 of 11,500 authorized troops on the ground.
- The humanitarian toll is severe, with 6.4 million people displaced, 26.6 million projected to face hunger this year, at least 173 conflict-related sexual-violence cases since December, and returnees from Burundi finding destroyed homes and scarce basic services.