UN Peacekeeping Chief Engages with M23 Rebels Amid Escalating Eastern DRC Crisis

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has engaged in direct talks with Rwandan-backed rebel factions to discuss the protection of civilians in rebel-held areas of eastern DRC.

Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and the top official of the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), met with leaders of the rebel coalition, which includes the M23 group, for high-level discussions in the city of Goma on Friday. The talks come as the conflict continues to escalate, with the rebels having seized control of vast territories in recent months, including the strategic city of Goma earlier this year.

Ms. Keita emphasized that her presence and approach to the meeting were guided by a “spirit of listening and exchange.” According to her, the rebel representatives expressed their openness to finding a peaceful resolution to the worsening crisis in the region.

While only limited details have emerged from the summit, Ms. Keita released a short written statement affirming that the meeting was part of ongoing “joint efforts begun several months ago for the benefit of the population” and that it had occurred at a crucial juncture in the conflict.

Photographs from the summit showed Ms. Keita boarding a helicopter headed to the volatile eastern region and sitting across from members of the Congo River Alliance, which includes the M23 rebel group. This marks one of the most high-profile encounters between the UN and rebel leadership since M23 forces overran Goma in January.

The UN has held previous discussions with the rebel groups, but Friday’s summit represents the highest-level engagement to date. Earlier this year, MONUSCO was unable to prevent the rapid advance of M23 rebels, who seized extensive territory from the Congolese army. Some of the peacekeeping troops were attacked by the rebels during the offensive.

The rebel group, active in the mineral-rich eastern DRC, has been responsible for displacing hundreds of thousands of people since the beginning of 2024. The ongoing violence has led to widespread civilian casualties and the collapse of local economies. Airports in major cities like Goma and Kavumu remain closed, and essential services have been severely disrupted. Many civil servants and workers have not received their salaries due to the instability.

Meanwhile, on Friday, nearly 250 South African soldiers returned home as part of a phased withdrawal from the conflict zone. These troops had been deployed to support the Congolese military under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force. However, following the deaths of 20 soldiers in an M23-led attack, the decision was made to begin withdrawing the contingent.

On Saturday, MONUSCO leadership met with a senior SADC military commander to acknowledge the mutual support and cooperation shared between their forces over the past difficult months. The meeting underscored their shared commitment to regional stability and their gratitude for one another’s assistance during one of the most challenging periods in recent peacekeeping history.