Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused the Congolese military of maintaining an "intense" collaboration with the extremist Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, in a March 26 interview published by Jeune Afrique on April 3.

Rwanda: Kagame Lambasts Congo Over Collaboration With FDLR, Pouring Cold Water on 2025 Peace Deal

Uganda

Uganda's army chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced in an April 2 post on X that Ugandan troops would "remain in [their] positions" in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Lubero area.

Uganda: Army Chief Rescinds Threat to Withdraw Troops From Northeastern Congo

China

U.S. mining company Virtus Minerals acquired copper and cobalt mining company Chemaf, which operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after securing approval from Congolese authorities, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 31.

Congo: U.S. Company Takes Over Cobalt and Copper Producer

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's army launched a disarmament campaign targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, or FDLR, a militia partly composed of remnants of forces involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi, Reuters reported on March 30.

Congo: Army Launches Push To Disarm Rwanda-Linked FDLR Rebels

The Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group has withdrawn from several localities in the Lubero and Walikale territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's North Kivu province since the night of March 23-24, Jeune Afrique reported on March 27. 

Congo: Rwandan-Backed Rebels Withdraw From Parts of North Kivu

Ugandan army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba said in a March 25 post on X that Uganda would withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Lubero area on April 3.

Uganda: Ugandan Military Will Partially Withdraw From Eastern Congo Amid Tensions With Ituri Governor

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo agreed to take "concrete steps" to support the advancement of their December 2025 peace agreement, the U.S. State Department announced on March 18.

Congo, Rwanda: U.S. Announces Agreement on Implementation of 2025 Peace Deal

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed financial sanctions on the Rwandan Defense Force, or RDF, and four senior Rwandan military officials for their role in supporting the M23 movement in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Reuters reported on March 3.

Rwanda: U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Rwandan Defense Force for Support to M23

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Structures destroyed in U.S. strikes on jihadist targets in Offa, Nigeria, are seen on Dec. 27, 2025.

New U.S. military action would most likely target jihadist groups, especially in West Africa, but limited strikes in Sudan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo to force belligerents there to de-escalate also cannot be ruled out.

The Outlook for New U.S. Strikes in Africa

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As 2026 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five patterns and trends as measured by geopolitical impact.

2025: A Geopolitical Review

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The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

Over the next decade, Kenya and Tanzania will compete for the title of East Africa's leading trade gateway, particularly as global demand for Central Africa's critical minerals grows. 

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Race to Unlock East Africa, Part 1 

Persistent conflict and armed group control in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will sustain significant legal, financial and reputational pressures on companies sourcing critical minerals from the region for the foreseeable future.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Due Diligence and Congo's Critical Minerals

Snapshots

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) speaks during a peace agreement signing ceremony between Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner (R) and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2025. 

The peace agreement opens Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo up to significant economic opportunities, but disagreements over interpretation and continued proxy violence risk stalling the deal’s implementation.

A Fragile Peace Takes Shape Between Congo and Rwanda

Israeli air defense systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early on June 18, 2025. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict Rages On, NATO Holds Annual Summit

M23 fighters are seen at the main border crossing between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Goma on March 1, 2025.

Mediation efforts from the Trump administration will likely see the two African countries ink a peace deal in the coming months, but implementation will prove challenging, sustaining the risk of a new military escalation in eastern Congo.

U.S. Mediation Brings Congo and Rwanda Closer to a Peace Deal

Chad

Members of the M23 rebel group are seen in Bukavu, eastern Congo, after the takeover of the city on Feb. 20, 2025.

Burundi's reported troop withdrawal and Uganda's apparent unwillingness to intervene against the AFC/M23 rebel group will limit the immediate risk of an escalating interstate conflict, but this could change if the rebels start advancing toward central Congo.

Assessing the Risk of an Expanded Conflict in Congo

Sri Lanka

Damage on Feb. 13 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Social Issues

The Weekly Rundown: Mideast Ceasefires and Arab Gaza Proposals, the AU Summit

Angola

An M23 fighter stands in the foreground as detained Congolese soldiers are loaded onto trucks on Jan. 30, 2025, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Unless the Congolese government agrees to enter direct talks, Rwanda-backed rebels will likely resume their advance toward the city of Bukavu, whose fall would expose Congo to mounting instability, including nationwide unrest and a potential military coup.

Fighting in Eastern Congo Reaches a Crossroads as Rebels Press Southward

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Essential Geopolitics: Increased Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The lobby of the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development is seen on Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 

Cuts to U.S.-funded humanitarian and development programs could worsen global health outcomes, destabilize security environments, accelerate democratic backsliding, and create opportunities for rival powers to expand their influence.

The Global Implications of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts

<p>The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a massive country in Central Africa. It is bordered by the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; and the Republic of the Congo to the west. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is roughly the size of Western Europe, and much of its territory is covered by dense jungle and is difficult to navigate. Its mammoth size and position in Central Africa have long drawn interest from outsiders. From the French and Belgian imperial conquests of the Congo River in the 19th and early 20th centuries to Cold War superpower intrigue and regional wars in the post-independence period, the country has attracted more than its fair share of foreign meddling. Since independence, the country has struggled to manage its extensive territories and its ethnic and regional divisions. It can be said that under the best of circumstances, the country is weak and prone to internal cleavages. Kinshasa, the political capital, simply does not have the resources to exercise a monopoly on force. By extension, the country&#39;s infrastructure remains woefully underdeveloped. Instead, the decades since independence have seen countless rebellions and other forms of insurrection in Katanga and other regions. Given this instability, the country&#39;s deep pockets of natural resources and its security vacuums have made it an attractive place for neighboring states and foreign powers to intrude. In regional terms, this has included Rwanda, Uganda and many other states over the years, and the United States and the Soviet Union fought for influence there after 1960. Additionally, the U.N. presence in the Congo is one of the longest-running operations for the international organization, tracing its origins back to 1960. The country&#39;s unwieldy size and difficult terrain profoundly constrain any movement beyond its status as a failed state. As such, it will remain a source of interest and concern for states near and far for many years to come.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Rwanda: Kagame Lambasts Congo Over Collaboration With FDLR, Pouring Cold Water on 2025 Peace Deal

Uganda: Army Chief Rescinds Threat to Withdraw Troops From Northeastern Congo

Congo: U.S. Company Takes Over Cobalt and Copper Producer

Congo: Army Launches Push To Disarm Rwanda-Linked FDLR Rebels

Congo: Rwandan-Backed Rebels Withdraw From Parts of North Kivu

Uganda: Ugandan Military Will Partially Withdraw From Eastern Congo Amid Tensions With Ituri Governor

Congo, Rwanda: U.S. Announces Agreement on Implementation of 2025 Peace Deal

Rwanda: U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Rwandan Defense Force for Support to M23

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