The AFC/M23 rebellion, which maintains control over significant territories in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, persistently benefits from direct military support provided by the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF). This backing extends to their operational activities and the consolidation of their strategic positions across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These findings have been highlighted in a recent report from the United Nations Group of Experts, submitted to the Security Council Committee on May 8, 2026, and subsequently reviewed on June 5, 2026.

Our examination of this crucial document reveals that UN experts have meticulously documented the ongoing presence of RDF personnel and the continuous arrival of reinforcements in both North Kivu and South Kivu. The report further details the RDF’s active engagement on multiple fronts, leveraging advanced military technologies and equipment, including sophisticated aerial warfare capabilities. According to the same document, the RDF has consistently offered operational assistance to the AFC/M23, demonstrating the ability to rapidly deploy highly specialized assets such as drones, electronic warfare systems, and special forces units.

Notably, the report also indicates that RDF operations have been conducted in areas like Uvira, where no presence of the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) had been reported. This particular detail casts doubt on Kigali’s justification for its military intervention, which it has consistently framed as legitimate self-defense measures.

“By December 2025, the deployment of RDF in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was conservatively estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 personnel in South Kivu and 6,000 to 8,000 in North Kivu, with no subsequent indication of significant withdrawal. Subsequent movements primarily involved rotations and reinforcements, up to the time this report was drafted,” the document states.

As previously outlined, the report continues, the RDF occupied critical forward positions, launched offensives, and established operational corridors for the M23. UN experts concluded that each M23 combat unit operated under the supervision and direct support of the RDF.

“RDF personnel were integrated into mixed battalions alongside M23 elements, specifically including commando units originating from Bigogwe, Rubavu, and Cyangugu. Recently, RDF elements deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun utilizing M23 uniforms to evade detection. For similar reasons, troop movements were primarily conducted under the cover of night,” the UN Group of Experts report elaborates. 

This latest report from the UN Group of Experts emerges amidst a backdrop of escalating security and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC. This deterioration persists despite the Washington Agreement and a series of evaluation meetings. Tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali remain high, with each side interpreting the provisions of the Washington Agreement differently, complicating its implementation a year after its ministerial-level signing.

Similarly, the Doha process, facilitated by the State of Qatar, has struggled to yield results. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, Kinshasa and the Rwandan-backed Alliance du Fleuve Congo (AFC)/M23 rebellion have yet to bridge their significant differences. The Montreux phase in Switzerland, intended to inject new momentum into the process, failed to deliver the anticipated outcomes. Commitments made during these negotiations have not been fully honored, and the worsening security situation in the Middle East has further overshadowed this dossier, impeding mediation efforts.