2025 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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| See also: | Other events of 2025 History of the DRC | ||||
Events of the year 2025 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Incumbents
[edit]Events
[edit]Ongoing
[edit]- M23 offensive (2022–present)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda tensions (2022–present)
- 2025 Kinshasa riots
January
[edit]- 5 January – M23 rebels seize the town of Masisi, North Kivu.[1]
- 9 January – The government bans Al Jazeera from operating in the country after the network airs an interview with M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa the previous day.[2]
- 15 January – At least ten people are killed in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces on the village of Makoko in Lubero Territory, North Kivu.[3]
- 21 January – M23 rebels seize the towns of Minova, Lumbishi, Numbi and Shanje in South Kivu, as well as Bweremana in North Kivu.[4]
- 23 January – Major General Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu, is killed in action during clashes with M23.[5]
- 25 January – The DRC cuts diplomatic relations with Rwanda and orders its diplomatic personnel to leave the country amid accusations by Kinshasa of Rwandan support for the M23 offensive.[6]
- 27 January – 2025 Goma offensive: M23 claims that it had taken Goma, the capital of North Kivu.[7][8]
- 28 January – 2025 Kinshasa riots: The French embassy in Kinshasa is set on fire by protesters demonstrating against the conflict in the eastern DRC. The Rwandan, French, Belgian and US embassies are also attacked.[9]
- 29 January – M23 launches an offensive into South Kivu, taking the districts of Kanyezire and Mukwija.[10]
February
[edit]- 4 February – A humanitarian ceasefire is declared by the antigovernment Congo River Alliance, which includes M23.[11]
- 5 February – M23 seizes the city of Nyabibwe in South Kivu despite declaring a ceasefire.[12]
- 10 February – At least 55 people are killed in an attack by CODECO militants in the Djaiba area of Ituri.[13]
- 12 February – Kasanga massacre: The Allied Democratic Forces kill 70 Christians inside a church in Lubero Territory.[14]
- 14 February – 2025 Bukavu offensive: M23 claims to have seized Kavumu Airport[15] and are confirmed to have entered Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.[16]
- 17 February – The Ugandan military enters Bunia, the capital of Ituri, to augment the Congolese military.[17]
- 19 February – A boat carrying refugees from the M23 offensive capsizes in Lake Edward, killing 22 passengers.[18]
- 20 February – The United States imposes sanctions on Rwandan minister for regional integration James Kabarebe and M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka Kingston for their roles in the M23 offensive.[19]
- 24 February – At least 53 people are reported to have died in an outbreak of an unidentified disease that began on 21 January in Boloko, with 419 cases recorded.[20] Authorities subsequently identify that outbreak as being caused by malaria.[21]
- 27 February – Twelve people are killed following explosions at an M23 rally in Bukavu.[22][23]
March
[edit]- 8 March – Nine people are killed in an attack by ADF militants on the village of Ngohi Vuyinga in Lubero Territory, North Kivu.[24]
- 9 March – A boat capsizes along the Kwa River in Mushie, killing 25 people.[25]
- 10 March - The DRC's military prosecutor questions Joseph Kabila’s party officials amid rising tensions over M23 rebels, as President Tshisekedi accuses Kabila of sponsoring them.[26]
- 13 March – South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi announce the withdrawal of their military contingents from the Southern African Development Community peacekeeping mission to the eastern DRC.[27]
- 19 March – M23 rebels take the mining town of Walikale in North Kivu.[28]
- 28 March – M23 announces a ceasefire with the SADC peacekeeping mission to facilitate the latter's withdrawal from the DRC.[29]
April
[edit]- 4 April –
- 9 April – Three American nationals convicted for participating in the 2024 Democratic Republic of the Congo coup attempt are repatriated to the United States after their death sentences are commuted to life imprisonment by President Tshisekedi on 1 April.[33]
- 11 April – Forty-one captives held by the ADF are rescued in a joint operation by DRC and Ugandan soldiers in North Kivu.[34]
- 12 April – At least 50 people are reported killed in clashes between the DRC military and M23 in the Goma area.[35]
- 15 April – A boat catches fire and capsizes along the Congo River near Mbandaka, killing at least 33 people.[36]
- 19 April – The government suspends the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy of former president Joseph Kabila, citing his "overt" activism following his visit to M23-occupied Goma.[37]
Holidays
[edit]Source:[38]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 4 January – Martyrs' Day
- 16 January – Laurent-Désiré Kabila Assassination
- 17 January – Patrice Lumumba Assassination
- 1 May – Labour Day
- 17 May – Liberation Day
- 30 June – Independence Day
- 1 August – Parents' Day
- 17 November – Army Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
See also
[edit]- 2025 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks
- List of massacres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Attacks on humanitarian workers
References
[edit]- ^ "Rwanda-backed rebels seize key town in DR Congo". BBC. 5 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ "Congo bans Al Jazeera over its interview with a key rebel leader and threatens journalists". AP News. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "Islamic State-linked rebels kill at least 10 people in eastern Congo". AP News. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ "M23 rebels in eastern Congo seize a town on a key supply route to the provincial capital". AP News. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ "Military governor of DRC's North Kivu province killed in M23 rebel assault". Al Jazeera. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
- ^ "Congo severs ties with Rwanda as rebels close in on Goma, displacing thousands". AP News. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Rebels say they have taken key DR Congo city". BBC. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ Mureithi, Carlos (2025-03-10). "Mass prison escapes stoke panic in DRC after rebel advance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
- ^ "French FM condemns 'unacceptable' attack on embassy in DR Congo". France 24. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "Rwanda-backed M23 Fighters Advance Into DR Congo's South Kivu: Local Sources". Barron's. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Rebels declare ceasefire in DR Congo for 'humanitarian reasons'". BBC. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
- ^ "Rwandan-backed rebels have seized another city in eastern Congo". AP News. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "At least 55 civilians killed by militia fighters in northeastern Congo". Africanews. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
- ^ "70 Christians murdered in DRC". Open Doors. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Rwanda-backed rebels claim to have seized a second airport in east Congo". AP News. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ "DR Congo M23 rebels enter city of Bukavu". BBC. 14 February 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
- ^ "Ugandan forces enter eastern Congolese city of Bunia to back up local troops". AP News. 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Boat fleeing rebel offensive capsizes in Congo, killing 22". AP News. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ "The US sanctions a Rwanda official and a rebel spokesperson over violence in eastern Congo". AP News. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
- ^ "An unknown illness kills over 50 people in part of Congo with hours between symptoms and death". AP News. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Malaria confirmed as cause of deadly outbreak in DRC". Africanews. 25 March 2025.
- ^ "At least 11 dead and 65 injured in Congo after blasts at M23 rebel leaders' rally, rebels say". AP News. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
- ^ Miridzhanian, Anait (4 March 2025). MacSwan, Angus (ed.). "Newly appointed rebel authorities in eastern Congo bury blast victims". Reuters. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Kabumba, Justin (11 March 2025). "Islamic State-linked rebels in fresh attack in eastern Congo kill 9 villagers". AP News. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ Kamale, Jean-Yves (11 March 2025). "A boat capsizes in Congo and 25 are dead, many of them soccer players". AP News. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Congo ex-president Kabila's allies questioned by military prosecutor". Reuters. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Mutsaka, Farai (13 March 2025). "South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi will withdraw troops from conflict-torn eastern Congo". AP News. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "M23 rebels capture Walikale, another key town in eastern DR Congo". Al Jazeera. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "Rebels agree to a ceasefire with African coalition troops departing from eastern Congo". AP News. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
- ^ "M23 rebels withdraw from strategic DRC town ahead of landmark Doha peace talks". Africanews. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ "Death toll from flooding in Congo's capital reaches 33 as officials race to support victims". AP News. 7 April 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
- ^ "Heavy floods in DR Congo's Kinshasa leave dozens dead, destroy homes". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ^ "Three Americans jailed over failed DR Congo coup returned home". BBC. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Congolese forces rescue at least 40 hostages abducted by Islamic State-linked rebels". AP News. 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
- ^ "Dozens are reported killed in east Congo as the government and Rwanda-backed rebels trade blame". AP News. 13 April 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ^ "DR Congo boat fire toll revised down to 33". RFI. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ "Congo suspends Kabila's political party over rebel 'ties'". Africanews. 20 April 2025.
- ^ "DRC Public Holidays 2025". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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