Democratic Republic of the Congo - February 2024

The level of violence in the long-running conflicts in the eastern states of the country increased considerably in the first two months of 2024. In February, the M23 rebel group advanced further towards the city of Goma, causing at least 135,000 people to flee, adding to the hundreds of thousands who have already been internally displaced. There were also credible reports that heavier weaponry, including surface-to-air missiles, rocket artillery, and armed drones, was being used in the conflict. Relations between the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda also deteriorated, suggesting that a further intensification of the conflict is possible in the coming months.

Sources: Times LIVE, United Nations, Daily Monitor, News24, The Conversation