DRC: Behind Lavrov's accusation against Kiev, a battle for influence in Africa

On July 10, 2026, in Bujumbura, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukrainian nationals of supporting the M23 in eastern DRC, alongside the Congolese government and Burundi. Ukraine rejected the accusation the next day, calling it disinformation. This episode is part of a rivalry for influence between Moscow and Kyiv in Africa, following a precedent in Mali where Kyiv claimed to have provided information to rebels, leading to severing of diplomatic ties with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The war in Sudan is also mentioned as another theater of similar tensions.