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M23 rebels, who seized Goma, DR Congo, are expelling thousands, alleging they are Rwandan illegals. Hundreds were bussed to Rwanda, raising UNHCR concerns about forced returns. The M23 accuses Kinshasa of backing the fdlr, using this as justification for their offensive. Expelled families, mainly from Karenga, were prevented from returning home after the M23 takeover.

Marco Rubio praised President Donald Trump's diplomacy. He cited progress in Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Israel, and Africa. Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace deal in Washington. The agreement aims to end support for rebel groups. It also plans for Rwandan troop withdrawal from Congo. Trump highlighted potential US mineral rights gains.

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on six Congolese and Rwandan members of the armed forces or militias over their alleged part in fuelling the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement, the U.S. Treasury Department said the people included one Congolese and one Rwandan senior officer, and four senior members of rebel armed groups that have been destabilising Congo's eastern borderlands for decades.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Rwanda's leader on Tuesday and pressed for a de-escalation after a new flare-up in tensions with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have initialed a peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC -- a document to be formally signed on June 27, a joint statement said Wednesday. Rwanda had said last month that a definitive peace agreement to end the crisis with its neighbor would be signed in mid-June in Washington.

The Indian army has now redeemed its reputation in Congo by facilitating the surrender of 67 Rwandan combatants in the strife-torn central African nation.

The former US administration has said the government of Rwandan President Paul Kagame rebuffed a proposed peace incentive for a deal between Congo and Rwanda. It involved expanding the Lobito Corridor to eastern Congo.

Hundreds of Congolese nationals protested at the EU offices in Pretoria, South Africa, demanding sanctions against Rwanda for supporting rebel group M23 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group recently seized Goma, sparking a humanitarian crisis. Protesters criticized a minerals deal between the EU and Rwanda, accusing Brussels of fueling the conflict. They called for similar sanctions against Rwanda and President Kagame as those imposed on Russia.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed continued support for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after 14 South African soldiers were killed in ongoing conflict with Rwanda-backed M23 fighters. Despite calls for withdrawal from political groups like the Economic Freedom Fighters, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa's commitment to peace efforts and called for a ceasefire. The Southern African development community (SADC) mission, with South Africa leading, will continue until peace is achieved, despite concerns over troop safety and resources.

Rwandan-backed M23 held its first public meeting in Goma since seizing the city, as they advanced towards Bukavu. After capturing Goma, the M23 broke a ceasefire and took the South Kivu town of Nyabibwe. The conflict has killed at least 2,900 people, with fears of further escalation. The M23 is pushing towards Kavumu, the last barrier before Bukavu, intensifying the regional conflict over mineral-rich areas.

Violence has surged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the M23 rebel group seizing Goma, leading to mass instability. The jailbreak of over 4,000 inmates and attacks on embassies have intensified the chaos. Rwanda’s controversial involvement and the struggle over resource-rich territories exacerbate the conflict, risking broader regional unrest and severe humanitarian consequences.

M23 has resurfaced as a formidable rebel group in eastern Congo, controlling significant territories including Bukavu and Goma. The complex dynamics involve the ineffective Congolese state, historical Rwandan influence, and the region's vast mineral wealth. International and regional responses have been insufficient to curb the resurgence.