DRC — North Kivu: M23 Crisis Analysis (23 February 2024)

Since 2022, the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in particular North Kivu, has been gripped by a devastating conflict that has intensified and become increasingly complex over time, with the potential to reach unprecedented levels in the province. This crisis is characterised by an abundance of armed actors in the conflict, a large-scale displacement and an increasing number of population in need of humanitarian aid. The ongoing conflict between the M23 group and the Forces Armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and their allies has been a major source of violence and instability in the region. The start of the deployment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional force has been announced for 28 December 2023. This initiative comes as a response to renewed fighting between the FARDC and its allies on the one hand, and the M23 group on the other.

The period from 13 to 19 February 2024 was particularly characterised by a precarious lull in the territory of Nyiragongo and Rutshuru on the one hand and the continuation of hostilities in the territory of Masisi on the other. Heavy artillery projectiles continue to cause human damage in Sake and Mubambiro. Since the beginning of the crisis, IOM, through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), has continued conducting a series of rapid assessments, including emergency monitoring (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and registration with the aim of responding to immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics.

This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the various displacement and return areas between 13 and 21 February 2024.