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Rwandan-Backed Proxies De Facto Annex Two Major Provinces in Eastern DR Congo, Escalating Regional Conflict

Joseph Kabila has formally allied with the Rwandan-backed M23 insurgency to form a new political-military front. The coalition aims to depose President Félix Tshisekedi, escalating the eastern conflict into a national crisis.

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Former President Joseph Kabila has emerged from political isolation to lead a new coalition with the M23 rebel group.From: Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Launches Coalition With M23 Rebels to Oust Tshisekedi

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Key numbers

2
Provinces under de facto rebel control
15%
Global tantalum supply from Rubaya mine
21 million
Congolese in need of humanitarian aid
3,000+
Estimated Rwandan troops in DRC

From: Rwandan-Backed Proxies De Facto Annex Two Major Provinces in Eastern DR Congo, Escalating Regional Conflict

Charts, maps and images

The M23 insurgency controls territory in North Kivu, more than 1,500 kilometers from the capital in Kinshasa.From: Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Launches Coalition With M23 Rebels to Oust Tshisekedi ·
The M23 and allied forces have consolidated control over major population centers in North and South Kivu.From: Rwandan-Backed Proxies De Facto Annex Two Major Provinces in Eastern DR Congo, Escalating Regional Conflict ·
The captured Rubaya mine alone accounts for an estimated 15% of the world's tantalum supply.From: Rwandan-Backed Proxies De Facto Annex Two Major Provinces in Eastern DR Congo, Escalating Regional Conflict ·
Congolese government forces and allied local militias have struggled to halt the advance of the M23 in North Kivu.From: Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Launches Coalition With M23 Rebels to Oust Tshisekedi ·
Illustration: The escalating conflict in eastern Congo has displaced more than 7 million people nationwide.From: Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Launches Coalition With M23 Rebels to Oust Tshisekedi ·
The UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, has struggled to enforce a ceasefire against the heavily armed rebel coalition.From: Rwandan-Backed Proxies De Facto Annex Two Major Provinces in Eastern DR Congo, Escalating Regional Conflict ·

Timeline

October 2026

  1. Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Launches Coalition With M23 Rebels to Oust Tshisekedi

July 2026

  1. Rwandan-Backed Proxies De Facto Annex Two Major Provinces in Eastern DR Congo, Escalating Regional Conflict