Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda tensions (2022–present)

Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda tensions (2022–present)
	Part of the M23 offensive (2022–present) and the Kivu conflict
	; The DRC (orange) and Rwanda (green)
Date	March 27, 2022 – present; (2 years, 1 week and 2 days)
Location	Central Africa
Status	Ongoing
Belligerents
Democratic Republic of the Congo; FDLR;	Rwanda; March 23 Movement; Supported by:; Uganda (alleged by the DRC, denied by Uganda);
Commanders and leaders
Félix Tshisekedi	Paul Kagame; Francois Habitegeko;
Units involved
FARDC	Rwanda Defence Force 401st Battalion as of October 24;
Strength
Unknown	Total unknown; 500 special forces in Tshanzu as of June 9 (per DRC); ;
Casualties and losses
2 soldiers killed trying to cross the Rwandan border; 1 Su-25 damaged; ;	1 Soldier killed (per Rwanda); 2 officers injured (per Rwanda); ;
	2 Congolese civilians killed (per DRC); Several Rwandan and Congolese civilians wounded; ;

In 2022, heavy tensions broke out between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, which have led to several alleged attacks by Congolese and Rwandan forces on each other's territory. Rwandan forces have been caught crossing into the DRC multiple times, usually fighting alongside Congolese rebels.

The crisis is related to an ongoing offensive beginning in March 2022 by the March 23 Movement (M23), which the Congo, United Nations, United States, and other Western countries accuse Rwanda of not only supporting but actively fighting for. Rwanda and M23 have also accused the DRC of working together with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a racist Hutu Power paramilitary group that took part in the Rwandan Genocide. Both the Congo and Rwanda deny they support the FDLR and M23, respectively, contrary to research and reports that confirm both sides' allegations.

The MONUSCO peacekeeping mission has maintained that it is not involved in the conflict apart from its role in defending the region from militants, but has been accused by Rwanda of taking sides due to its cooperation with the Congolese armed forces. Meanwhile, the Congolese government has asked MONUSCO peacekeepers to leave the DRC due to a "failure to protect civilians from armed groups."

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