Rwanda’s Secret War Tactics in Congo: Spies, Smuggling, Drones

In the war-torn provinces of eastern Congo, bullets aren’t the only weapons being used. Lies, spies, and secret planes are just as dangerous. According to the latest UN Group of Experts report (May 2025), the Rwandan government, under President Paul Kagame, is running a secret network across Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda to manipulate the war, silence critics, and loot Congo’s resources.

This is not a new war. But what’s new is how deep the web goes.

Covert Spies in Civilian Clothes

The report confirms that Rwandan intelligence officers are secretly operating inside Congo. These agents don’t wear uniforms or badges. Instead, they blend in, disguised as aid workers, journalists, or even civilians in refugee camps.

Their job is to spy. They gather information about Congolese army positions, local resistance groups, and international monitors. Some also help plan M23 rebel operations, serving as invisible commanders and messengers. In some zones, they’ve taken full control of communications and civilian administration under rebel occupation.

These spies don’t just collect data, they create confusion, making it harder for outsiders to understand what’s happening. In areas like Rutshuru and Bunagana, several “local leaders” were later confirmed to be Rwandan operatives, manipulating the community and relaying intelligence to Kigali.

Smuggling Routes: Congo’s Wealth Flows East

Congo is rich in minerals, gold, coltan, and cassiterite. But in M23-controlled areas, these resources are no longer helping the Congolese people. Instead, they are being stolen, smuggled, and sold through a criminal network involving Uganda and Rwanda.

The UN report explains how minerals mined in eastern Congo are transported across the border, often with the help of corrupt border officials. Once in Rwanda or Uganda, the origin of the minerals is changed using fake papers, and they are sold to international markets as “clean” exports.

This smuggling network is what keeps M23 alive. The money from stolen minerals is used to buy weapons, pay Militias, and bribe officials. Kigali’s fingerprints are everywhere, from the mining sites to the export terminals.