EASTERN
CONGO CONFLICT – INTERNATIONAL
News:
The flaring conflict in
eastern Congo | Explained
What's
in the news?
●
Renewed clashes in eastern DRC between the
Congolese army and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have raised global concerns.
Key
takeaways:
●
The conflict exacerbates the humanitarian
crisis in the region, with increased fatalities, displacements, and food
security risks.
●
The United Nations and several Western
countries denounce the attacks and urge the M23 rebels to halt their offensive
Backdrop
of Eastern Congo Conflict:
1.
Origin:
●
Conflict in the eastern region of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) stems from the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, where
extremist Hutus killed hundreds of thousands of minority ethnic Tutsis and Hutu
moderates.
2.
Refugee Crisis:
●
Following the genocide, around two million
Rwandan refugees fled to eastern Congo, leading to tensions between local
Congolese and Rwandan emigrants.
3.
First Congo War:
●
Ethnic tensions escalated into the First
Congo War, pitting Zairean soldiers against Tutsi militias and the Alliance of
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), supported by Rwanda and
Uganda.
4.
Political Changes:
●
The AFDL captured Kinshasa, leading to the
renaming of Zaire as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1997.
5.
Africa’s World War:
●
The Second Congo War erupted in 1998, characterized as “Africa’s world
war,” involving various armed groups, including the Rwanda-backed rebel group,
the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD).
●
Despite multiple peace agreements,
violence persists in the region, making it one of the deadliest conflicts since
World War II.
M23
rebels:
Formation:
●
The March 23 Movement (M23) was formed in 2012 to defend Tutsi interests against
Hutu militias, stemming from a 2009 ceasefire agreement.
●
It broke away from the Congolese army,
accusing the government of failing to integrate Tutsis.
Recent
Resurgence:
●
M23 resurged in 2022, citing attacks by Hutu militias.
●
Recent attacks near Goma have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to protests
urging Rwanda’s withdrawal of support.
Escalating
Tensions:
●
Violence has strained relations between
the DRC and Rwanda, with the DRC accusing Rwanda of backing M23 rebels.
●
Rwanda denies these allegations and
attributes the escalation to Congo’s decision to send back regional
peacekeepers.
Potential
Regional Escalation:
●
The worsening violence raises concerns
about regional tensions and the involvement of more countries.
●
Attacks on civilian settlements have
caused significant casualties and forced health and aid workers to withdraw.