Goma, October 28, 2025 —
The Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) has accused the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of launching a massive new offensive across several front lines in eastern Congo. The movement says the operation is part of a wider campaign of ethnic persecution against Congolese Tutsi communities, vowing to defend civilians and prevent what it calls “a return to genocidal ideology.”
In a statement issued early Tuesday, M23 reported that government forces and allied militias began attacking around 3:00 a.m., using heavy artillery and combat drones against densely populated towns including Kibati, Bibwe, Nyabiondo, and Bukombo. According to the communiqué, these bombings struck civilian neighborhoods, leaving women and children among the victims and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
M23 Says It Acts to Stop Killings and Protect Civilians
The group stated that it is exercising its right to self-defense, pledging to use “all necessary means” to protect the population and stop what it describes as state-sponsored violence.
“We cannot remain silent while the government turns its weapons on its own people,” the communiqué declared. “The world must not ignore the deliberate campaign to wipe out Congolese Tutsi civilians simply because of who they are.”
AFC/M23 leaders claim their movement’s goal is to shield vulnerable communities and push for genuine peace, not to seize territory. They say President Félix Tshisekedi’s government has failed to curb hate speech and has allowed genocidal rhetoric to flourish, leading to targeted massacres and forced displacement of minority groups in North Kivu.
Pattern of Violence and Warnings From Rights Groups
Observers note that violence in eastern DRC has escalated sharply despite ceasefire agreements and regional mediation efforts. Human rights organizations and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned about inflammatory language and organized attacks against Congolese Tutsi civilians. Aid groups report an increase in civilian casualties, with hospitals and emergency centers overwhelmed by the injured and displaced.
Local monitors describe the humanitarian situation as dire, with entire communities fleeing heavy bombardments and militia raids. Analysts caution that continued impunity for ethnically motivated killings risks deepening divisions and triggering wider instability across the Great Lakes region.
Kinshasa’s Position and International Reactions
The DRC government has not issued an immediate response to M23’s latest accusations. In previous statements, Kinshasa has denied targeting civilians, insisting that its military operations are aimed at restoring state authority in the east. However, critics argue that the government’s alliance with extremist armed groups—some linked to past genocidal movements—raises serious concerns about its commitment to protecting civilians.
International observers, including regional mediators from the African Union and the East African Community, have urged all parties to halt hostilities and engage in dialogue. Diplomats warn that continued escalation could undermine fragile peace efforts and worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
A Call to Prevent Another Genocide
M23’s statement ended with an appeal to the international community to act decisively against hate propaganda and violence targeting Congolese Tutsi civilians.
“The ideology of genocide must never again be tolerated,” the movement said. “Our struggle is not against the Congolese nation—it is against those who seek to destroy part of it.”
As tensions rise, the fate of thousands of displaced families and the future of peace in eastern Congo may hinge on whether the world responds swiftly to halt the spread of ethnic hatred and hold perpetrators of mass violence accountable.
