The (New) M23 Offensive on Goma: Why This Long-Lasting Conflict Is Not Only about Minerals and What Are Its Implications? – Q&A
Publisher: International Peace Information Service
Date: 2025
Topics: Conflict Causes, Land, Public Health
Countries: Congo (DRC)
The rapid advance of M23 — supported by the Rwandan military (RDF) — in North Kivu has taken most of us by surprise over the past week. By the morning of January 29th, the rebels largely controlled the strategic city of Goma, except for some last pockets of resistance by Congolese army soldiers and allied armed groups. On February 3rd, the UN reported that at least 900 people were killed in the siege of Goma, and highlighted incidents of summary executions, as well as cases of sexual and gender-based violence, and the destruction of displaced persons camps. The latest crisis also displaced another 237,000 people since the start of 2025 — while the Kivu provinces were already home to 4.6 million internally displaced people at the end of last year. Additionally, the UN warned for a looming health crisis, citing the risk of massive spread of mpox, cholera and measles due to further displacement and the lack of medical care. The security and humanitarian risks are further exacerbated as M23 is continuing its offensive in the direction of Bukavu, in South Kivu.
To provide a quick and understandable explanation of the causes of this humanitarian crisis, the role of natural resources, and in particular minerals, is often overemphasized. While mining and mineral trade inevitably play an important role — being a vital part of the local economy — it is important to assess economic assets more broadly, as well as political interests and social grievances.
A wider range of conflict drivers have come together in the latest upswing of violence. Many different actors are involved, each with their own agenda. On top of that, several events and political decisions have added fuel to the fire over the past two years. This led to the current escalation of violence in eastern DRC. Below, we have prepared a Q&A that attempts to answer the most important questions concisely, while highlighting the various aspects and complexities.