The government of South Kivu province has accused Rwanda of violating Congo’s sovereignty after allegedly deploying 750 soldiers on Idjwi Island in Lake Kivu. In a statement released Saturday, provincial spokesperson Lugunywa Bashizi Didier Kabi said Rwanda was “attempting to annex part of Congolese territory under the cover of the M23/AFC rebel movement.”
The province claims that M23’s capture of the island in March 2025 paved the way for Rwanda to expand its military presence. South Kivu officials urged Kinshasa to escalate the matter to the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and mediators in Washington and Doha.
So far, no independent evidence has confirmed the presence of Rwandan forces on Idjwi, which spans 340 square kilometers and is home to around 500,000 residents. Kigali has not responded to the latest accusations but has consistently denied backing M23 or seeking Congolese territory, insisting its measures are strictly defensive following clashes between M23 and FARDC in Kalehe and Bukavu.
The renewed allegations underscore worsening tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, even as international actors continue to call for dialogue over escalating conflict in eastern Congo.
