Félix Tshisekedi

Force in Play

Leading DRC government's multi-track diplomatic and military response

Congolese authorities have uncovered at least 171 bodies in two mass graves on the outskirts of Uvira, an eastern DRC city. M23 withdrew from the city in January after the United States requested the pullback as a trust-building gesture. Local officials and civil society groups say the victims were killed by M23 fighters who suspected them of ties to the Congolese army or pro-government militias, though M23 denies involvement.

Updated May 29

Force in Play

Leading diplomatic efforts against M23 while accusing Rwanda of peace deal violations

A landslide at the Rubaya coltan mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo killed more than 400 people on January 29, 2026—miners, children, and market workers buried when rain-soaked tunnels collapsed. The mine, controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group since May 2024, supplies roughly 15% of the world's coltan, which becomes tantalum capacitors in smartphones and aircraft engines worldwide. M23 extracts an estimated $800,000 monthly by taxing every gram of ore.

Updated May 26

Rule Changes

Partner in Washington Accord linking peace to investment and health cooperation

In 2025 the Trump administration dismantled the post-Cold War global health architecture by withdrawing from the WHO, freezing most foreign aid, and abolishing USAID's development role. Through its 'America First Global Health Strategy,' the administration created bilateral health compacts requiring partner governments to co-finance HIV, TB, malaria, and outbreak response programs and gradually assume full responsibility.

Updated May 10

Force in Play

Seeking to regain territory from M23 and leverage U.S. backing while facing domestic skepticism about concessions to Rwanda and foreign investors

In early 2025, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebellion and its allies seized Goma and Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, displacing millions. The United States stepped in and brokered the June 27 Washington Accord.

Updated May 9