DRC — North Kivu: M23 Crisis Analysis (31 July 2024)

The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in particular North Kivu province, is in the grip of an increasingly complex and persistent conflict. This conflict is characterized by various armed groups such as the M23/AFC group, the congolese armed forces Forces Armées Congolaises (FARDC) and their respective allies including the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), with the use of heavy munitions causing significant damage and loss of life in displacement areas of North and South Kivu.

In Lubero territory, a precarious calm was observed despite brief clashes between the M23 group and the FARDC and their allies on July 14, 2024 in the rural commune of Kirumba in the Kayna health zone. This relative lull is the result of the humanitarian truce announced by the government of the United States of America covering the period from July 5 to July 19, 2024 in the provinces of North and South Kivu, and which was extended by two weeks from July 17, 2024, as announced by the US State Department.

Between July 5 and July 20, 2024, pockets of instability resurfaced with new clashes in the Kirotshe and Mweso health zones in Masisi territory and in the Bukombo health zone in Rutshuru territory. This resumption of hostilities has considerably increased the security and humanitarian challenges in the affected areas and those controlled by the M23 group.

Prolonged displacement, commuting and limited access to humanitarian aid continue to exacerbate the complexity of the crisis and increase the vulnerability of all categories of the affected population.

The city of Goma and areas adjacent to M23-controlled territories in North and South Kivu are home to large numbers of displaced people, and lack the resources to provide them with sufficient support.

Since the start of the crisis, IOM, through the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), has continued to conduct a series of rapid assessments, including emergency event tracking (EET/ERM), crisis analysis and registration, with the aim of prioritizing immediate information needs in order to understand displacement dynamics and needs.

This report presents the results of assessments carried out in the various displacement and return areas from July 11 to July 25, 2024. It covers displacements and returns linked to the current M23 crisis.