THE STATE OF SIEGE IN NORTH KIVU: AN EXCEPTIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE FACE OF THE RESURGENCE AND TERRITORIAL EXPANSION OF THE M23

Author: Ezati Mawa Jérémie

ABSTRACT

This study critically examines the effectiveness of the state of siege declared in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May 2021 as an exceptional security regime intended to curb armed violence and restore state authority. Despite the expansion of military and judicial powers and the militarization of civilian administration, the period of implementation coincided with the resurgence and rapid territorial expansion of the March 23 Movement (M23), culminating in the capture of strategic urban centers, including Goma in 2025. Drawing on strategic analysis and qualitative content analysis of official documents, institutional reports, and scholarly literature, the research identifies four interrelated factors explaining the failure of the state of siege: structural and institutional weaknesses of the state, marginalization of local civilian authorities, deficiencies in operational coordination among loyalist forces, and the neglect of local socio-political dynamics. Anchored in the theory of the exceptional regime as articulated by Giorgio Agamben, the study argues that prolonged emergency governance, when applied in contexts of state fragility, can paradoxically weaken institutional legitimacy and create governance vacuums exploitable by armed non-state actors. The findings suggest that a predominantly militarized approach, disconnected from local conflict dynamics and regional geopolitical realities, is insufficient to achieve sustainable stabilization. The paper concludes that durable peace in North Kivu requires an integrated security framework combining institutional reform, inclusive local governance, and coordinated regional engagement beyond purely coercive measures.

Keywords: State of siege; North Kivu; M23; exceptional regime; security governance; armed conflict; Democratic Republic of the Congo; institutional fragility; militarization; conflict stabilization.

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