Huang Xia, the UN special envoy for the Great Lakes region, urged parties on October 13 to act on an opening for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Addressing the Security Council, he said diplomatic progress had not stopped security and humanitarian conditions from worsening.

Huang said peace processes led by the United States and Qatar had made notable progress. He urged the parties to turn their commitments into verifiable action, warning that the opportunity created by closer alignment of peace efforts would not last indefinitely.

Fighting continues despite peace commitments

The Congolese army and M23, an armed group described by the Jamaican news outlet Jamaica Inquirer as backed by Rwanda, have continued fighting. The clashes have persisted despite agreements intended to halt the conflict.

The Congolese government and M23 signed a commitment toward a ceasefire in Doha, Qatar’s capital, in July 2025. The DRC and Rwanda also formalised a US-brokered peace agreement in Washington.

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Further talks in Switzerland brought together representatives of the United States, Qatar and the African Union. Huang said sustained diplomatic efforts had yet to reverse the deterioration in eastern Congo.

Mining areas remain caught in the conflict

A separate analysis published by the OWP reported that clashes across North and South Kivu had disrupted mediation. It said M23 continued advancing into mining centres and civilian supply lines in the Great Lakes region.

The analysis reported that rebel troops had taken control of Rubaya, a town in North Kivu. It put Rubaya’s share of the world’s coltan supply at about 15%. Coltan contains tantalum, which is used in smartphones and other electronic devices.

An Amnesty International investigation cited in the analysis said armed groups’ control of coltan mining sites had forced thousands of miners to work, including children. The analysis also cited UN Security Council findings that tantalum minerals were systematically laundered across borders through Rwanda before reaching international markets.

Regional ministers are due to meet

The African Union Panel of Facilitators has held talks on the conflict between the Congolese and Rwandan governments. Working with the Angola-led Luanda mediation arrangement, the panel sought to preserve the fragile ceasefire between Congolese forces and M23.

Huang said the UN would facilitate another regional meeting on October 18 in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. The planned talks would bring together the defence ministers of Burundi, the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.