Fri Jul 18 07:05:02 UTC 2025: ## UN Report Accuses Rwanda of Directing M23 Rebels, Uganda of Doubling DRC Troop Presence
**Kampala, Uganda** – A leaked UN report has ignited a firestorm of controversy, alleging Rwanda exercises “command and control” over the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while Uganda has “unilaterally doubled” its military presence in the region. The report, compiled by UN experts on the DRC and submitted to the Security Council in May, also details human rights violations committed by all parties involved, including Congolese government-aligned armed groups.
According to the report, the Rwandan government and intelligence services are providing “critical support” and “instructions” to the M23, enabling their rapid expansion. The report even alleges Rwandan officials informed the group of experts that President Kagame had decided to take control of Goma and Bukavu prior to the M23 attack.
Meanwhile, the report highlights a significant increase in Ugandan troop deployments in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. The DRC government reportedly confirmed this deployment occurred without prior approval and outside the framework of joint operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). This has raised concerns about Uganda’s motives, particularly given past allegations of support to M23.
Both Rwanda and Uganda have vehemently denied the accusations, branding the UN experts as biased. However, the report alleges the Rwandan army’s “de facto direction and effective control” over M23’s operations makes Rwanda liable for the group’s actions and warrants international sanctions. It also accuses Uganda of creating a buffer zone that shields the M23 from counterattacks.
The report further details the looting of minerals like coltan from Congolese mines seized by M23, which are then allegedly smuggled into Rwanda and laundered into the supply chain.
The findings risk undermining recent peace efforts, including a US-brokered deal between Rwanda and the DRC and ongoing Qatar-mediated talks between Kinshasa and M23.
On the Congolese side, the report criticizes the government’s reliance on irregular Wazalendo groups and the FDLR, a Hutu militia linked to the Rwandan genocide, as proxies in the fight against M23. This alliance, the report argues, has worsened the human rights situation and led to reprisal attacks, child recruitment, and sexual violence.
While analysts see these reports as essential for accountability, the accusations are likely to further strain relations between the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda, hindering efforts to stabilize the conflict-ridden eastern DRC.
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