The Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) maintain their support for rebel operations and the consolidation of their positions in the provinces of North and South Kivu, despite the fact that a peace agreement was signed between Kinshasa and Kigali on June 27, 2015, under the auspices of the United States.

According to the experts, the presence of the RDF is evident in eastern Congo and also in its use of advanced military technologies and equipment, as well as air warfare capabilities, including drones, electronic warfare equipment, and special forces.

The report points out that by December 2025, the Rwandan forces deployed numbered between 8,000 and 10,000 members, with no signs of a significant withdrawal afterward.

This is compounded by their participation in operations in areas where the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) had not been reported to have a presence, casting doubt on the self-defense argument that Kigali has used for years to justify its military intervention under the pretext of “defensive measures.”

The report further states that each AFC/M23 combat unit was supervised and supported by the DFR, which recently began using rebel uniforms to avoid detection, and that its movements are conducted at night for the same reason.

The group of experts also linked the rebels to former Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who frequently visited territories controlled by the AFC/M23 starting in May 2025 and met with the movement’s main leaders. “Various sources within the AFC/M23 and intelligence services indicated that a complete restructuring of the AFC/M23’s leadership and structure was imminent, including a name change for the movement, and that Mr. Kabila was expected to assume a leadership position,” the report cited by Actualité.CD stated.

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