The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), which includes the United States, Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom and is chaired by Germany, has issued a statement expressing concern over increased violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The escalation involves a new offensive by the March 23 Movement (M23), reportedly supported by Rwanda near Uvira in South Kivu close to Burundi. According to the ICG statement, this development threatens regional stability.
The ICG specifically highlighted worries about "the increased use of both attack and suicide drones in the conflict," describing it as "a significant escalation in the fighting and poses an acute risk to civilian populations."
In its statement, the group urged M23 and Rwanda’s armed forces to stop their military operations immediately: "The ICG urges the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) to immediately halt offensive operations in eastern DRC, in particular in South Kivu, and calls on the RDF to withdraw from eastern DRC in line with UNSC resolution 2773 and on the M23 to uphold its commitments under the Declaration of Principles that was signed in Doha on 19 July 2025."
The group also called on all involved parties to respect international agreements. "The ICG calls on all parties to honour their obligations to protect civilians, adhere to all aspects of UNSC resolution 2773, including full respect of territorial integrity, to uphold their commitments under the Washington Accords of 4 December 2025 and immediately deescalate the situation. We urge all parties to avoid escalatory or provocative speech and actions that gravely endanger civilian populations and risk irreparably undermining the significant progress achieved with the Framework Agreement signed in Doha on 15 November 2025 by the Government of the DRC and M23. The ICG further calls on all actors involved to urgently and unequivocally recommit to the ceasefire and to ensure full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access so that critical assistance can reach those in need."
No additional facts were provided beyond those included within this joint statement.
