6 March 2023: The Minister of Higher Education, Muhindo Nzangi, announced at a press conference that the DRC cabinet has approved the Ministry of Defense's proposal that will make it legal for everyone with military training, including members of illegal armed groups and demobilized combatants, to fight alongside the FARDC against M23, within a week from 6 March 2023.

3 March 2023: a FARDC soldier crossed over from DRC and shot at RDF soldiers manning the common border between Grande Barrière and Petite Barrière in Rubavu District, the RDF soldiers returned fire, killing the FARDC soldier on the Rwandan side of the border. Several other FARDC soldiers fired at the RDF position resulting in a brief exchange of fire.

6 February 2023: DRC accused M23 and RDF of shooting the MONUSCO helicopter without any proof. 

6 February 2023: A MONUSCO helicopter coming from Beni was shot. One passenger died. The helicopter managed to land in Goma. An investigation is underway to identify the aggressors.

5 February 2023: DRC issues a Communiqué following the 20th Extra-ordinary Summit fo the EAC Heads of State.

4 February 2023: 20th Extra-ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State. The Summit observed that the security situation in Eastern DRC is a regional matter that can only be sustainably resolved through a political process and highlighted the need for enhanced dialogue among all parties. 

26 January 2023: M23 takes control of Kitshanga in Eastern DRC.

25 January 2023: Regional peace facilitator President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed deep concern over the sharply deteriorating situation, targeted killings of civilians by armed groups, and thousands of internally displaced people and once again called for the cessation of all hostilities.

24 January 2023: Statement by Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, on the discovery of mass graves in Ituri, DRC.

24 January 2023: A Sukhoi-25 jet from the DRC violated Rwandan airspace at around 17:03. Defensive measures were taken.

23–24 January 2023: Many photos and videos showing mercenaries operating alongside FARDC in Kitshanga circulated on social media.

23 January 2023: Kinshasa pulled out at the last minute from Qatar-led media, which President Tshisekedi had requested.

18 January 2023: A march in Goma to pressure the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) is organized by civil society.

12 January 2023: The regional peace facilitator, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, met with leaders of the M23 in Mombasa, Kenya. The M23 agreed to an orderly withdrawal and followed a ceasefire.

11 January 2023: The spokesperson of the DRC government, Patrick Muyaya, denied DRC’s use of mercenaries.

10 January 2023: FARDC CDS, General Christian Chiwewe, held a meeting with civil society, FARDC commander, and armed rebel groups (including FDLR) to launch “lightning” offensives to recapture villages under M23 occupation.

09 January 2023: President Kagame warns the international community that DRC is undermining ongoing regional efforts to bring stability to the Eastern DRC, including preparing for war by hiring foreign mercenaries.

06 January 2023: M23 handed over the Rumangabo military base to the military force of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF). In a statement, it said that it remains committed to implementing the resolutions of the Luanda Mini-Summit and lends its support to the Region’s endless efforts to find peace in DRC.

28 December 2022: A Sukhoi-25 fighter jet from the DRC violated Rwandan airspace along Lake Kivu in the Western Province of Rwanda at around 12h00 and was immediately returned to the DRC. Rwandan authorities have once again protested to the DRC Government against the violations of Rwandan airspace by DRC fighter jets.

28 December 2022: DRC accused Rwanda of espionage, parading four men allegedly operating in Kinshasa. In a statement, Rwanda expressed concern for the welfare of Rwandan nationals falsely accused of spying.

23 December 2022: M23 withdrew from its positions in Kibumba and called on Kinshasa to work to establish peace.

30 November 2022: Statement by Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide,  condemning the escalation in fighting in the DRC.

30 November 2022: Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo delivered a speech to the Congolese Youth in which he calls them to arms against Rwanda.

28 November 2022: Starting the third round of inter-Congolese dialogue under the EAC-led Nairobi process, M23 wasn’t invited at the demand of the DRC government.

25 November 2022: M23 accepted a conditional ceasefire and requested talks with the DRC government.

24 November 2022: Mini-Summit on Peace and Security in Eastern DRC, chaired by Angolan President João Lourenço, issues the Luanda Communiqué.

19 November 2022: FARDC soldier crossed the Rwandan border at “petite barrière” in Rubavu and started shooting at RDF guard towers. He was shot dead by RDF patrol before causing any casualties.

15 - 16 November 2022: The regional peace facilitator, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, visits Kishansa and Goma; and calls on all actors to dialogue.

7 November 2022: Sukhoi-25 fighter jet from DRC violated Rwandan airspace, briefly touching down at Rubavu Airport in Rwanda’s Western Province. Rwanda took no military action in response, and the jet flew back to DRC. Rwandan authorities protested this provocation to the DRC Government, who acknowledged the incident and claimed that the pilot made a mistake and landed at the wrong airport.

3 November 2022: DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi gave an inflammatory national address in which he appeared to be calling for war, asking young Congolese to enroll massively in the army and police while claiming to be choosing a diplomatic path to the crisis in Eastern DRC. He called on Congolese youth to create “vigilance groups” and warned “civil and military traitors” while pledging to punish those involved in hate speech targeting Rwandophone communities.

2 November 2022: Kenyan troops of the East African Regional Force begin to deploy in Eastern DRC, joining the Burundian troops (already present in South Kivu fighting Burundian rebels of Red Tabara) and Ugandan troops (already in North Kivu fighting Ugandan ADF violent extremists). At the request of DRC, Rwanda will not deploy troops but is represented in the command structure of the regional force.

31 October 2022: Anti-Rwanda protests broke out in Goma.

30 October 2022: DRC declares Rwanda’s Ambassador Vincent Karega persona non grata.

29 October 2022: DRC Government Forces (FARDC) and the FDLR launched a new offensive against the M23 but failed to dislodge the group, which captured more territory, including the FARDC barracks at Rumangabo and Rutshuru town.

15 August 2022: The first contingent of the East African Community Regional Force arrived eastern, consisting of the Burundian National Defense Force.

25 July – 25 August 2022: Anti-MONUSCO protests killed 36 civilians and 170 injured.

13 June 2022: M23 captured the Bunagana border post.

28 May 2022: Two RDF soldiers on patrol along the Rwanda border are kidnapped by elements of the FDLR and detained by DRC authorities. DRC Government released them on 11 June 2022, following intervention by President João Lourenço of Angola.

28 March 2022: M23 attacked Congolese army positions in Rutshuru.

19 March, 23 May, and 10 June 2022: Cross-border shelling of Rwandan territory with 122mm BM-21 multiple rocket launcher systems. The DRC is investing extraordinary energy into externalizing the problem and drawing Rwanda into an internal DRC conflict under the guise of fighting one armed group, M23, which they claim is a front for Rwanda.

5 October 2019: Brutal attack by FDLR splinter group from DRC, in Kinigi, a tourist area in Northern Rwanda, that killed 14 innocent villagers.