Also known as: M23 rebels · AFC/M23
M23 — Rwanda-backed rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, currently controlling parts of North and South Kivu regions.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech – these are abuses at home. “We are seeing bloodshed right before our eyes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda is playing a significant role in fuelling that conflict – both through its support to the M23 …
Villa warned over sportswashing after Visit Rwanda dealJoy Online
… The assault took place on Monday in Katana, a town controlled by AFC/M23 rebels some 30 km (19 miles) north of the provincial capital, Bukavu, according to the ministry and the head of a local hospital reached by Reuters. …
Congo reports attack on Ebola burial team as cases riseThe Ghanaian Times
… A laboratory has also confirmed an Ebola case in the eastern city of Goma, currently controlled by the M23 rebels, the AFP news agency reported on Sunday. …
WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo an international emergencyThe Ghanaian Times
… M23 rebels last year seized control of swathes of the North and South Kivu regions, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu. …
DR Congo president hints at term extensionJoy Online
… M23 rebels last year seized control of swathes of the North and South Kivu regions, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu. …
DR Congo president hints at extending his term and delaying pollsJoy Online
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila for his support of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and for fueling political instability in Congo’s troubled east. …
US imposes sanctions on former Congo President Joseph KabilaPolicymakers misdiagnose so-called "ungoverned spaces" in Africa—territories where formal state authority appears absent—as institutional voids prone to violence and extremism. In reality, these areas are governed differently through alternative authorities and institutional arrangements; the question is not whether governance exists, but who governs and for whose interests.
19 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Policymakers misdiagnose so-called "ungoverned spaces" in Africa—territories where formal state authority appears absent—as institutional voids prone to violence and extremism. In reality, these areas are governed differently through alternative authorities and institutional arrangements; the question is not whether governance exists, but who governs and for whose interests.
19 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Aston Villa's new £20m-a-year sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda has drawn criticism from Amnesty International UK, which warns the country is using the partnership for sportswashing to deflect from human rights concerns, including arbitrary detention, torture, and repression of free speech.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed a case at the International Court of Justice against Rwanda, accusing it of dispatching forces and backing armed groups to carry out unlawful military operations on its territory, and seeking accountability for alleged breaches of international conventions on genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women's rights and torture.
26 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Residents attacked an Ebola burial team in Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province on Monday, forcing responders to abandon a coffin; the body was subsequently handled by community members, raising transmission risks. Burial teams and health workers have faced repeated attacks fueled by mistrust and resistance to response efforts.
5 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Three Red Cross volunteers died in the Democratic Republic of Congo from suspected Ebola likely caught while managing dead bodies while working in the eastern Ituri region. The outbreak, involving the Bundibugyo species of Ebola with no proven vaccine, has resulted in more than 170 suspected deaths and 750 suspected cases, prompting the WHO to raise the public health risk to "very high."
23 May 2026 · Joy Online →
An angry crowd set fire to isolation ward tents at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province after being prevented from collecting the body of a young man thought to have died from Ebola. Police fired warning shots to disperse the crowd, and a healthcare worker was injured by stone-throwing protesters.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Fear has gripped Ebola-hit areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the suspected number of deaths continues to rise, with officials acknowledging they are playing catch-up with an outbreak that may have been spreading undetected before it was first confirmed on 24 April. As of Tuesday, there were 514 suspected cases with 136 believed dead, with cases also reported in Uganda and other DRC provinces.
20 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The World Health Organisation has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern Ituri province a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus with 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported, has spread to Uganda with two confirmed cases and poses risk of broader regional spread.
19 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The Africa CDC confirmed 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases in Ituri province, marking the 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976. The detection of suspected cases in Bunia, a provincial capital near the Ugandan border, raises concerns that the urban setting and transit hub status could enable rapid regional spread amid ongoing armed conflict.
15 May 2026 · Joy Online →
A coordinated assault by the CODECO militia in late April killed at least 69 people in northeastern DR Congo's Ituri province, reportedly in retaliation for an earlier attack by the Hema-affiliated CRP group. The violence reflects an ongoing ethnic conflict between the Lendu and Hema communities in the mineral-rich region.
11 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Democratic Republic of Congo's President Félix Tshisekedi said he may consider a third term when his mandate expires in 2028, but only if approved by referendum and the law is changed. He also stated that the 2028 elections may not occur on schedule due to conflict in the eastern regions, and timing would depend on how quickly the war is resolved.
8 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi said he may consider seeking a third term in 2028 if the people approve via referendum, though current law allows a maximum of two terms. He also indicated that elections may not proceed on schedule because of the conflict in the east, where M23 rebels control parts of North and South Kivu regions.
7 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila, accusing him of backing the M23 rebel group with financial support and encouraging military defections. All of Kabila's US assets have been frozen, and American citizens and companies are barred from doing business with him.
1 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The US Treasury imposed sanctions on former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila for providing financial support to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and their political-military arm, the Congo River Alliance, which have fueled violent conflict and displacement in eastern DRC. Kabila also encouraged DRC troops to defect to rebel forces and backed a candidate opposed to the current leader in an attempt to regain influence.
1 May 2026 · Joy Online →