All articles tagged with #m23 rebel group
Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death in absentia for supporting the M23 rebel group and committing war crimes, including murder and sexual assault, though he denies the charges and is currently in exile.
Survivors in eastern Congo recount a massacre by the M23 rebel group, which summarily executed over 140 civilians, undermining the US-backed peace deal between Rwanda and Congo, with ongoing tensions and denials from Rwanda.
Over 200 people have been killed and thousands forced to flee as violence escalates in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with the M23 rebel group advancing towards Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The conflict, fueled by historic ethnic and national rivalries, competition for mineral resources, and geopolitical tensions, has led to widespread displacement and destruction. The international community is urging de-escalation and supporting regional initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis.
Two South African soldiers were killed and three injured by mortar fire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where they were deployed as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission to combat armed rebel groups. The violence in the region has escalated, with many attributing attacks to the M23 rebel group, which is accused of receiving military support from neighboring Rwanda. The conflict has led to over one million people being displaced, posing a significant threat to the aid system in eastern Congo.
Thousands of people, including children, are seeking shelter in an overwhelmed hospital in North Kivu province, DRC, as fighting escalates between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army. Medical facilities are receiving an influx of war-wounded patients, and at least 150,000 people, including 78,000 children, have been forced to flee their homes in the past week. The United Nations has called on the M23 group to cease its offensive, while the UN peacekeeping mission is set to complete its withdrawal from the country this year. The conflict has caused a humanitarian disaster, forcing over one million people from their homes since March 2022.
Incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has threatened to declare war on Rwanda if re-elected, accusing them of backing the M23 rebel group. Tensions between the two countries have been escalating, with the DRC blaming Rwanda for the violence in its volatile east. While some analysts believe Tshisekedi's rhetoric is aimed at gaining more votes, experts warn that such strong language could have severe consequences and destabilize East Africa. The DRC has a history of instability and conflict, and efforts to end the war have so far been unsuccessful.
Journalist Michela Wrong investigates the true nature of Rwandan President Paul Kagame's regime, revealing a dictator who will stop at nothing to silence his critics. In a piece for Foreign Affairs, she reports on Kagame's support for the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo, which is risking a broader regional conflict. The West is doing little to stop Rwanda's destabilization of central Africa.