On January 23, 2025, M23 rebels seized control of the eastern city of Minova in the Democratic Republic of Congo, significantly impacting supply routes to the provincial capital, Goma. The ongoing conflict in the North Kivu province has escalated as the Tutsi-led M23 group has been active in the region since 2022, with accusations from the DRC and UN experts alleging support from neighboring Rwanda, which Rwanda denies.
In a related development, the outgoing U.S. administration proposed incorporating the conflict area in eastern Congo into a broader infrastructure project aimed at stabilizing the region. Molly Phee, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, indicated that both sides of the conflict were presented with the proposal to develop a new branch of the Lobito Corridor, which would connect the eastern DRC to regional trade routes. However, Phee noted that Rwanda appears to have distanced itself from the initiative.
Political analysts have criticized the U.S. proposal, suggesting it lacks practical feasibility. Alex Vines from Chatham House remarked that Rwanda is unlikely to redirect trade flows through the DRC that would otherwise benefit its own economy. The growing demand for minerals in the region, particularly cobalt, nickel, and lithium, has intensified competition for access to resources, with the DRC being the largest cobalt producer globally.
The Lobito Corridor, a 1,300 km railway project extending from Lobito on Angola's Atlantic coast to Kolwezi in the DRC, is expected to facilitate mineral transport and counter Chinese influence in the region. However, analysts express skepticism about the viability of the U.S. proposal, especially under the incoming administration.
In a separate incident, a six-year-old girl sustained serious injuries following a collision between a car and a van in Bury, near Huntingdon, UK, at approximately 08:45 GMT on January 23, 2025. The girl, a passenger in the car, was transported to Hinchingbrooke Hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The Cambridgeshire Police have initiated an investigation and are seeking witnesses to the incident.