Congo War Security Review

Data Cutoff: April 7, 2025, at 1 P.M. EST

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Key Takeaway: Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and M23 completed an initial round of Qatari-mediated peace talks ahead of a second phase scheduled for April 9. Angolan President João Lourenço nominated Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé to replace his role as mediator between the DRC and Rwanda during a virtual African Union (AU) meeting. M23 officially launched a parallel banking system in M23-occupied areas. M23 announced numerous personnel appointments for its parallel administration in the eastern DRC. US President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, met with several African heads of state as part of his tour of the Great Lakes region.

Northern Axis: Lubero-Butembo-Beni-Bunia

Nothing significant to report.

Southern Axis: Bukavu-Uvira-Baraka-Kalemie

Pro-Congolese government Wazalendo fighters clashed with M23 in an area on the border between North and South Kivu provinces. Congolese journalist Daniel Michombero reported on social media on April 6 that Wazalendo fighters attacked M23 in two villages in the Ziralo commune.[1] Michombero said that the Wazalendo attack was in retaliation for a prior M23 attack in the area on an unknown date.[2] 

Northwest Axis: Masisi-Walikale-Lubutu-Kisangani

Nothing significant to report.

Southwest Axis: Bukavu-Kamituga-Shabunda-Kindu

Nothing significant to report.

Major Political Developments

Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and M23 completed an initial round of Qatari-mediated peace talks ahead of a second phase scheduled for April 9. Reuters confirmed previous reports that DRC and M23 representatives met privately for preliminary negotiations on at least one occasion.[3]  Reuters said on April 5 that the initial talks were “positive” and contributed to M23’s withdrawal from Walikale town in western North Kivu on April 2.[4] French media gave a conflicting report on April 5 that the first phase failed to produce “concrete results,” however, and that M23 questioned the Congolese delegation’s composition of mostly military and intelligence officials.[5] The Qatari Foreign Ministry has not yet issued formal invitations to the peace talks on April 9.[6]

French media reported that Congolese and Rwandan officials participated in a separate round of talks that followed up on the Qatari-mediated ceasefire agreement from late March.[7] Senior Congolese officials had told the French magazine Jeune Afrique in late March that there was a scheduled meeting between Congolese and Rwandan military and intelligence officials in Doha.[8]

Angolan President João Lourenço nominated Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé to replace his role as mediator between the DRC and Rwanda during a virtual African Union (AU) meeting on April 5.[9] The AU approved Gnassingbé’s appointment on April 5.[10] French media reported on April 7 that Congolese politicians “expressed reservations” about the appointment.[11] Lourenço had announced in late March that he would formally abdicate his position as mediator due to Angola’s AU leadership commitments and would appoint another African head of state to the role.[12]

M23 officially launched a parallel banking system in M23-occupied areas. Corneille Nangaa—head of M23’s political branch, Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)—said on April 7 that the group reopened the main financial institution in Goma, the Caisse Générale d’Epargne du Congo (CADECO), which will function as a “full-fledged bank” for Goma and M23-occupied territories.[13] CADECO will reportedly also function as a tax collecting mechanism for M23.[14] Nangaa had announced the effort in late March.[15] Goma has faced cash shortages and rising prices after the Central Bank of Congo severed business relations with local banks when M23 took the city in late January.[16] The Congolese media outlet Kivu Morning Post quoted a “local official close to M23” on April 7 who said that the initiative is mainly a “political act aimed at reassuring residents and economic operators.”[17] CADECO’s parent branch in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital, denounced the reopening and called for citizens to boycott the bank on April 7.[18]

M23 announced numerous personnel appointments for its parallel administration in the eastern DRC. M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka announced the appointment of district administrators, deputy district administrators, and mayors and deputy mayors for Lubero district in North Kivu province.[19] Kanyuka announced appointments for the same positions in the Kalehe, Kabare, Idjwi, and Walungu districts in South Kivu province.[20] Kanyuka also announced the appointment of an inspector general and an administrative secretariat for the AFC.[21]

President Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, met with several African heads of state as part of his tour of the Great Lakes region. Boulos met with Kenyan President William Ruto on April 5 and with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on April 7 and discussed the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC and US investment with both leaders.[22] Boulos has also reportedly met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame since arriving in the region on April 3.[23] Boulos announced on April 3, after meeting with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, that US President Donald Trump “agreed on a path forward” for a potential minerals-for-security agreement between the DRC and United States.[24]