The March 23 Movement’s (M23) recent activities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have aggravated conflict in a sensitive area and affected the city of Goma in particular, as well as relations with the DRC’s neighbouring countries, including Rwanda and Uganda. This article describes the latest M23 activities and discusses the impact on civilians and the global implications of the conflict, in particular its gendered dimensions, including the heightened risks of sexual violence, the displacement of women and children, and the broader implications for gender-based human rights in the region.
Background on M23
The M23 rebel group, initially composed of ethnic Tutsi fighters, emerged from the failed implementation of the 2009 peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) government and the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a rebel group from eastern DRC, particularly the North Kivu province. Named after the date the peace accord was signed, March 23, 2009, M23 was formed in 2012 when CNDP dissidents accused the DRC government of failing to honour its commitments, including integrating their fighters into the national army. The conflict is deeply rooted in historical tensions involving ethnic communities, cross-border dynamics with Rwanda and Uganda, and long-standing disputes over land, resources, and political representation in the eastern DRC. The M23 insurgency has led to mass displacement, human rights abuses, and regional instability, with accusations that Rwanda has supported the group, further straining diplomatic relations in the Great Lakes region.
Although the group was militarily defeated in 2013, it reemerged in 2021, claiming that the DRC government had neglected its obligations under the peace deal. Since then, M23 has intensified its activities, particularly towards the end of 2024 and into 2025, leading to severe destabilization in the DRC’s North Kivu province. This resurgence has had dire consequences for civilians in the region, resulting in widespread displacement, human rights abuses, and the exacerbation of existing ethnic tensions. Human Rights Watch (2024) has documented these violations extensively.
M23’s stated motives include fighting for better representation of Tutsi populations and advocating for the enforcement of past agreements, but analysts point out that their actions are also driven by a complex mix of political, economic, and ethnic factors. Allegations of support from neighbouring countries, particularly Rwanda and Uganda, have further complicated the conflict and strained regional relations. By revisiting the events of March 23, 2009, and understanding M23’s origins, their resentments, and the broader historical and political context, it becomes clearer why the group continues to destabilize the region.
M23’s Advance and the Humanitarian Crisis
In the last few months, M23 has captured several tactical towns near Goma, such as Shasha, Kihindo, and Kituva, disrupting key supply routes. By January 2025, they had control of the territories along the Goma-Minova road, effectively blocking critical supply lines and causing significant logistical challenges for the government while also displacing more than 100,000 people (Associated Press, 2025).
The social situation in the city of Goma, which already hosted many internally displaced persons (IDPs), has further deteriorated due to the ongoing conflict. Displacement camps have been the target of attacks with shells launched by M23 forces and reported to be reinforced by the Rwandan military. The civilian population is suffering as access to basic needs such as food, water, and medical assistance remains scarce, while international humanitarian organizations struggle to meet the surge in demand.
Regional Implications
The conflict has deteriorated relations between the DRC and Rwanda. The DRC has accused Rwanda of providing military support to M23, a claim supported by Human Rights Watch and other impartial sources. Rwanda has refuted these claims but has been accused of supporting the rebels in terms of logistical and military support. Uganda, too, has been accused of being involved in the issue, complicating relations within the region.
This situation has a very dangerous implication for the stability of the Great Lakes region, which has always been a theatre of war. The re-emergence of M23 poses a major challenge to nascent peace initiatives. Rwanda and the DRC were recently unable to sit for peace talks in Angola, showing no diplomatic improvement.
International and Local Responses
Human rights organizations and international bodies have described M23’s actions as barbarous, and the United Nations has placed sanctions on its leaders while calling for an end to the support from Rwanda. However, enforcement remains weak due to several key factors. First, the ongoing regional tensions make it difficult to cut off M23’s supply chains and external support. Second, despite international pressure, Rwanda has denied involvement and continues to push back against allegations, limiting diplomatic leverage. Third, the DRC’s military struggles with inadequate resources, poor coordination, and internal instability, making it difficult to mount an effective counteroffensive. Finally, international mediation efforts, including negotiations in Angola, have failed to produce lasting agreements, as mistrust between the parties and competing geopolitical interests prevent meaningful enforcement. As a result, M23 continues to operate with relative ease, and conflicts between the DRC and other countries in the region remain high.
At the local level, there are non-governmental organizations, including those in Goma, that are actively helping the displaced, but they face significant challenges related to resources and security. Many humanitarian groups struggle with insufficient funding, logistical difficulties due to blocked supply routes, and the growing number of displaced people needing assistance. Insecurity in the region further complicates their operations, as ongoing violence and the threat of attacks on aid convoys and workers limit their ability to reach those in need. Additionally, restrictions on humanitarian access and bureaucratic hurdles imposed by both the DRC government and armed groups create further barriers to delivering aid effectively. If no coordinated measures are taken, the crisis threatens to deepen instability in the Great Lakes region.
Impact of M23’s Resurgence on Women
The re-emergence of M23 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has not only displaced the population but also exacerbated the existing threats to women in conflict-prone areas. Women in conflict-affected regions of the country, especially in and around Goma, are at higher risk of violence, exploitation, and displacement.
It is worth noting that sexual violence has been widely employed in the DRC by various armed groups, including M23. Human Rights Watch reported in 2024 to the United Nations Human Rights Commission that women in displacement camps and other areas of armed conflict have been subjected to increased acts of sexual violence. Criminals also continue committing their crimes unfettered in areas of conflict because there is no law to compel them to stop.
Reports have been presented by the United Nations and local NGOs of acts of systematic rape, forced marriage, and other related gender violence perpetrated by M23 fighters and other armed groups in the area. These violations are not sporadic acts but are part of a systematic process of repression of women to enforce obedience among women.
The resurgence of M23 has also worsened the economic losses for women. A recent survey conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also shows that women of childbearing age in Goma and its surrounding areas — where most were engaged in farming, small-scale trade, and informal businesses such as selling goods in local markets—— cannot continue with their work due to insecurities caused by the conflict. The economic displacement makes these women more vulnerable, forced to rely on humanitarian assistance, and have less control over their lives (Le Monde, 2024). These are clear examples of the specific ways women experience the M23 conflict, highlighting how deeply gendered its impacts are.
Gendered Challenges Due to Displacement
The conflict has displaced over 100,000 people in the early months of 2025, with women and children including the largest number of those affected (IOM, 2024). Displacement causes additional burdens on these women, who are often responsible for providing care to their families in overcrowded camps with limited access to basic resources. Tasks such as securing food, water, and health care, which typically fall on women, become nearly impossible under these conditions.
Additionally, women face heightened risks in displacement camps, including exploitation through transactional sex, often in exchange for food or protection. The breakdown of social structures in these camps further compounds their struggles, leaving women with little recourse for the abuses they endure (African Arguments, 2024).
Hope in Local Initiatives
Nevertheless, women’s groups and non-governmental organizations have remained most active in responding to perceived gendered outcomes of the conflict. Some of these include HEAL Africa and Synergie des Femmes pour les Victimes des Violences Sexuelles (SFVS) have been assisting survivors of sexual violence via medical, psychological, and legal interventions. They require funding for women and demand justice in a world where justice is rarely served.
Conclusion
The re-emergence of M23 in DRC has contributed to the challenges of women in regions affected by conflict through violation of their rights of being subjected to violence, displacement from their homes, and job insecurity. To address these challenges it is necessary not only to aim at cessation of the conflict but also to provide women with specific assistance in the framework of women, peace, and security agenda. When the international community is looking for ways through which the situation could be addressed, gender-sensitive measures and intervention must form the core of any possible solution.
Edited by Justine Delangle
This is an article written by a Staff Writer. Catalyst is a student-led platform that fosters engagement with global issues from a learning perspective. The opinions expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.
I am a second-year student at McGill University, majoring in Political Science with double minors in Anthropology and Sociology. My academic interests lie at the intersection of politics, society, and culture, with a focus on global development, social justice, and international relations.