Breaking!M23-AFC announces a ceasefire starting tommorow.

 The M23-AFC has announced a ceasefire from February 4, 2025 for humanitarian reasons. The group specifies that it has no intention of taking control of the city of Bukavu or other localities.

Will the cease-fire bring Goma to normalcy?

The city of Goma, the capital of the province of North Kivu, has been under occupation for a week by the rebel group M23, supported by Rwanda. Between shortages, paralysis of activities and insecurity, the inhabitants live in anguish, trapped in a city transformed into a conflict zone. This prolonged occupation worsens the humanitarian, economic and security crisis.

The usually lively streets of Goma are today marked by an atmosphere of desolation. Traffic remains limited, many businesses remain closed, some after being looted. As for the markets, they operate at a slow pace. Fear and uncertainty remain among the inhabitants, forcing them to coexist with the presence of the rebels.

Goma, which sheltered more than three million displaced people, has seen many of them flee to neighboring towns or try to reach Rwanda. The latter dispersed after the fighting that exposed their accommodation sites. Those who remain face severe food shortages and soaring prices for basic necessities.

Looting is increasing, making the situation even more critical. Goma’s international airport, schools, universities and public services remain closed. Despite the rebels’ attempt to impose an administration, the city has come to a standstill.

Essential infrastructure has been affected: water and electricity cuts are complicating residents’ daily lives, while some hospitals are operating at a slow pace due to a lack of medicines and staff, several sources say. Concerns about security are growing. “The rebels control strategic points and impose their law,” several residents say.

The USA embassy in Kinshasha issues a security alert to it's citizens!

Event: The U.S. Embassy Kinshasa is further reducing the number of U.S. personnel working at the Embassy.

The Embassy advises U.S. citizens in the DRC to depart immediately by commercial means.

Due to the security situation in Kinshasa, the U.S. Embassy will not be conducting visa interviews and will not be able to provide routine services to U.S. citizens.

Please ensure that you and your family’s travel documents are in order and that essential items are packed in bags that you can easily carry. We understand that border crossings remain open for transit and that many flights are departing from Kinshasa’s N’Djili Airport.

If you need emergency assistance, please contact the Consular Section at the phone numbers below.

Actions to Take:

Review your personal safety plans and ensure your family has enough food and water if you need to stay home for several days.

Have essential items (clothing, medications, travel documents) packed in a bag that you can carry.

Have a personal emergency action plan that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.

Take advantage of commercial transportation options, if you wish to leave the area.

Avoid crowds and demonstrations.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Monitor local media for updates.

Keep a low profile.

Assistance:

S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa/Gombe, +243 81-556-0151/0152 or +243-972-616-193 (after hours and weekends).

The Embassy maintains a list of local emergency resources on our website.

Contact us at:

ACSKinshasa@state.gov

https://cd.usembassy.gov/

Department of State - Consular Affairs +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444

SADC AND EAC TO MEET THIS COMING WEEKEND OVER THE M23 WAR

“A joint summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) will be held on Friday and Saturday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.”

“This follows an agreement between the SADC Chairperson, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, and the EAC Chairperson, President Williams Ruto of Kenya.”

“President Samia Suluhu Hassan has graciously agreed to host the summit to deliberate on the situation in the eastern DRC,” President Ruto said.

“He said President Félix Tshilombo of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda have confirmed their attendance at the meeting which will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on Friday before the Heads of State meeting on Saturday. »

"President Ruto confirmed that he had contacted President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President Hassan S Mohamud of Somalia who confirmed their participation in the extraordinary summit."

Colonel Rugabisha Alex killed on Frontline!

Col Alexis Rugabisha fell on the frontlines, leading an axis he had commanded for over a year.

He was a Munyamulenge military officer in FARDC who fought against RDF - RCD, RDF - CNDP, RDF - M23 Part One, and now died while fighting current RDF - M23. Rugabisha was a close ally of Pacific Masunzu.

Alot of Kinshasha critiques claim that Rugabisha was killed by his fellow FARDC men ,who claim that lotsa FARDC members saw him as a traitor.However ,Manny military analysts say,that such information is another form of weapon to weaken the cohesion within the national army.

 After FARDC's loss in Kalehe, Alot of media in Kinshasha accussed him of  ending  the lives of 20 FARDC soldiers by handing them over to his aggressor brothers M23RDF on the NGUNGU-MINOVA section on  January 20, 2025, specifically Onhe NGUNGU, MINOVA, KABALEGASHA, LUMBISHI, NUMBI and SHANJE axis in South Kivu, Kalehe territory.

At the time of his death on the 1st February 2025, He was commanding FARDC's 12th Brigade, which was engaged in battle against the RDF offensive in South Kivu. He was ambushed by RDF in South Kivu, in areas beyond Nyabibwe, along with other soldiers, including his escorts.

Dan Munyuza to represent Rwanda in Libya!

 

ACG Dan Munyuza presented the credentials to the President of the libyan Governing Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, authorizing him to represent Rwanda in that country.

Colonel Mazebo dies on Frontline fighting theM23

Colonel Papy Mozebo,who ha been deployed on kanyamahoro-kibumba axis Lost His Life on the Front Line Against the AFC/M23

Colonel Papy Mozebo, tragically lost his life on the front line against the AFC/M23 rebels. His death comes after his deployment on kanyamahoro-kibumba axis  to defend the Democratic Republic of Congo in the face of escalating violence in the east of the country.

Colonel Mozebo was much more than just a soldier. In addition to his role as a defender of the homeland, he was also a preacher of the Gospel and a devoted family man.

He was considered a true hero by the population of Goma and Butembo, cities where he dedicated his life to protecting civilians against rebel threats. His courage and dedication to the defense of his country will remain etched in our memories.

Why did Kagame and Tshisekedi relationship die fast?

 

Between January 2019 and July/August 2021, it was the honeymoon between the two leaders. A privileged relationship, marked by unprecedented political and economic rapprochements. Then, suddenly, this cordial understanding gave way to declared hostility. However, the causes of the current crisis largely originate in this brutal rupture. This conflict is also the consequence of a profound disagreement between two heads of state.

What had they promised each other during the 2-year honeymoon? What clauses of their agreements were not respected to get to this point? These are the real questions to explore.

When he came to power in January 2019, Félix Tshisekedi and Kagame were:

(1) March 2019, RwandAir, a Rwandan airline, finally obtained authorization to operate flights between Kigali and Kinshasa/Lubumbashi, something that Joseph Kabila never authorized during his entire reign.

(2) May 2019, Paul Kagame, who had not set foot in Kinshasa for more than ten years, was welcomed as a distinguished guest by Félix Tshisekedi at the funeral of Étienne Tshisekedi. "Yo nani, oboya Kagame?" ("Who are you to oppose Kagame?"), the people of the UDPS told us.

(3) November 2019, Claude Ibalanky, coordinator of the Addis Ababa Framework Agreement Monitoring Mechanism and close collaborator of Félix Tshisekedi, sent a letter requesting the lifting of arrest warrants against M23 members and their integration into the FARDC. He will then mention nearly 10,000 former M23 combatants based in Rwanda and Uganda who should return to the country.

(4) December 2019, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, all smiling, appeared on hand in hand in Kigali during the Kusi Ideas Festival. Félix  also visited the Tutsi genocide memorial and wrote in the guestbook that the Congolese victims were collateral victims of regional wars, a statement that had provoked contrasting reactions. At that time, we spoke of "active diplomacy".

(5) His greatest partner, Vital Kamerhe, went to Rwanda and gave cows in a wedding at Kabarebe's, in the name of the friendship that now bound their two Presidents.

(6) May 2021, Denise Nyakeru, First Lady of the DRC, spent several days in Kigali as part of an "official visit", participating in activities organized in her honor.

(7) June 2021, Félix Tshisekedi signed an agreement with Kagame on the exploitation of Congolese gold by the Rwandan company DITHER LTD, a highly controversial decision at that time.

(8) After the eruption of Nyiragongo, Claude Ibalanky announced that Rwanda would build a modern city for the victims on Congolese soil, financed to the tune of 30 million USD, a donation presented as a generous gesture from President Kagame.

Then, around July/August, it was the divorce. And we cannot continue to hide the fact that what is happening to DRC is the consequence of broken un calculated commitments.