Confidential UN Report Accuses Rwanda of Direct Control Over M23 Rebels in Eastern Congo

 A confidential United Nations report obtained by Reuters has revealed that Rwanda exercised command and control over M23 rebels during their recent military offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), securing strategic political influence and access to valuable mineral-rich territories.

Compiled by a panel of UN experts and submitted to the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee on Congo in early May, the report is expected to be publicly released soon, according to diplomatic sources.

The report presents detailed findings on Rwanda’s alleged military involvement, including the training of M23 recruits and the provision of sophisticated military equipment. Among the hardware reportedly supplied are “high-tech systems capable of neutralizing air assets,” giving M23 forces a “decisive tactical advantage” over the Congolese army, which has struggled to contain the rebellion.

M23 fighters captured key eastern cities, including Goma and Bukavu, in January and February, alarming regional stakeholders. The United Nations, the Congolese government, and several Western powers have accused Rwanda of actively backing M23 through the deployment of troops and weapons.

Rwanda has consistently denied any direct support to M23. Kigali maintains that its actions in the border region are aimed at countering persistent threats from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a militia composed partly of Hutu extremists responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

However, the UN experts challenged this justification, asserting that Rwanda’s military activities in eastern Congo are “not primarily” focused on neutralising the FDLR. Rather, the report says, the Rwandan government appears intent on “conquering additional territories.”

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo rejected the findings, telling Reuters that the report "misrepresents Rwanda's longstanding security concerns related to the persistent threat of the FDLR and its affiliated groups, which necessitates the defence posture in our border areas."

U.S.-Brokered Peace Deal and Ongoing Mediation Efforts

The report’s release comes as the United States, under the administration of President Donald Trump, intensifies efforts to broker a lasting peace between Rwanda and Congo—one that could unlock billions in Western investment in the region's lucrative mineral sector, which includes tantalum, gold, cobalt, lithium, and copper.

On Friday, the foreign ministers of Rwanda and Congo signed a peace agreement in Washington, following a meeting with President Trump, who warned of "very severe penalties—financial and otherwise" in the event of non-compliance. A separate mediation process, hosted by Qatar, is also underway, involving delegations from the Congolese government and M23 representatives.

Makolo affirmed Rwanda's commitment to the Washington agreement, stating that the neutralization of the FDLR is essential for the lifting of Rwanda’s “defensive measures.”

Expanded Rwandan Military Presence and Command Over M23

The UN report also alleges that Rwanda significantly expanded its military footprint in eastern Congo prior to the latest M23 offensive. It estimates that approximately 6,000 Rwandan troops were active in North and South Kivu provinces during that period.

Training for M23 recruits, the report claims, was conducted at Rwanda’s Gabiro Training Centre, as well as military facilities in Nasho and Gako. The experts further accuse Rwanda of hosting senior leaders of a broader rebel coalition that includes M23.

The report notes that even after M23 withdrew from Walikale—an area rich in tin and other minerals—the decision appeared to be made on the instruction of the Rwandan government. This, the experts argue, constitutes further evidence of Kigali’s direct control over M23’s strategic military decisions.

“This included strategic-level decision-making on whether to seize, hold, or relinquish territory, thereby demonstrating overall operational coordination and hierarchical subordination,” the report states.

Violation of Arms Embargo and UN Peacekeeper Casualty

The UN experts accuse Rwanda of “flagrant and systematic violations” of the existing arms embargo. They also implicate Rwandan forces in a likely missile strike in January on an armored personnel carrier transporting UN peacekeepers—an attack that killed one and injured four. The missile was reportedly launched from a known Rwandan military position.

The report estimates that 1,000 to 1,500 Rwandan troops remained in M23-controlled areas at the time of writing, with several thousand more positioned along the border, ready to mobilize.

Accusations Against Congo

While Rwanda faces serious allegations, the UN report also accuses the Congolese government of violating international sanctions by arming the FDLR and pro-government militias known as the Wazalendo. According to the findings, Kinshasa provided these groups with money and logistical support in the ongoing conflict.

The Congolese government has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations.

The latest revelations raise renewed concerns over the stability of the Great Lakes region and highlight the fragile balance of international diplomacy, regional security, and mineral wealth at stake. The full report is expected to shape upcoming deliberations at the UN Security Council.