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Great Lakes Crisis: U.S. Lawmakers Weigh In on Instability in DRC, Rwanda, and the Region

U.S. Congressman Ronnie Jackson recently testified before a congressional committee on ongoing crises, including the M23 rebel group, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the strained relations between Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame.

Jackson had just concluded visits to several countries in the region—DRC, Rwanda, Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Uganda—and shared his observations on the security, economic, and governance challenges facing eastern DRC.

According to the DRC presidential office, he visited Kinshasa in his capacity as “Special Envoy of Donald Trump.” His testimony highlighted regional instability, abundant natural resources, governance failures, and the broader geopolitical implications of the crisis.

Testimony Highlights:

“On Sunday, I returned from my trip to the DRC. During this visit, I also traveled to Rwanda, the Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Uganda. I met with presidents from the DRC, Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda.

Leaving the region, I feel both hopeful and frustrated. There is tremendous potential for peace and stability here, yet conflict and bloodshed persist.

The region’s natural resources are worth trillions of dollars, making the DRC, on paper at least, one of the wealthiest nations in the world. However, realizing this potential requires eastern DRC to become a region where security and foreign investment are prioritized.

When I say ‘everyone,’ I mean the DRC, Burundi, Uganda, and Rwanda. Currently, eastern DRC is largely lawless—a ‘Wild West’ without rules. The Kinshasa government lacks the resources and capacity to control the region. In reality, it has become just another actor competing for resources. Everyone is exploiting the area—Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi—with no oversight or regulation governing mineral extraction.

The DRC government must address several critical issues. First, domestic issues: a significant portion of eastern DRC’s population is not recognized as Congolese citizens, including many members of the M23 rebel group.

While the M23 has links to Rwanda, it now operates as a dominant force in the region with little resistance. With or without Rwanda’s support, the M23 faces virtually no opposition in the area. The DRC military has not counterattacked; in many cases, soldiers either fled or joined the M23.”