News Break
Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been engulfed in anger as protesters burned portraits of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and tore down Rwandan flags.
The outrage comes as M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, have taken control of most of Goma, a strategic city in eastern DRC.
The protesters accuse President Kagame of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim that has been repeatedly echoed by the United Nations. A group of UN experts has stated that the Rwandan army is in “de facto control of M23 operations,” providing evidence that M23 recruits are trained under Rwandan supervision and equipped with advanced Rwandan weaponry.
Goma, located at the foot of a volcano near Lake Kivu and bordering Rwanda, is the capital of North Kivu province, a mineral-rich region. It serves as a vital trading hub and hosts the UN’s largest peacekeeping mission. The city has also become a refuge for those fleeing the conflict between M23 rebels and the Congolese army, which reignited in late 2021. Its population has swelled to around two millio
However, the city now faces further chaos. Fighting erupted on Sunday night, with loud explosions echoing through the streets, leaving bodies scattered across the city. Phone lines, electricity, and water supplies have been cut off, making it difficult to ascertain the exact situation. Despite the confusion, it appears the M23 has captured most, if not all, of Goma.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN peacekeeping chief, confirmed the presence of Rwandan troops in Goma supporting the M23, though he noted it was challenging to determine their exact numbers.
Rwanda has consistently denied supporting the M23 rebels, who are well-equipped, armed, and trained. However, as accusations mount with “overwhelming evidence,” Rwanda’s response has shifted from outright denial to justifying its actions as defensive measures.
Richard Moncrief, the International Crisis Group’s project director for the Great Lakes region, noted, “The tone has changed to justification for defensive measures. It has become harder to deny Rwanda’s support for M23.”
On Sunday, Rwanda’s foreign ministry released a statement expressing concern over the fighting near its border, calling it a “serious threat to Rwanda’s security and territorial integrity.” The statement also criticized “misguided or manipulative” narratives about the conflict.
The roots of the current conflict trace back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, where Hutu militias killed an estimated 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi community. Many of these militias fled to what is now DRC, forming the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group still active in eastern DRC.
President Kagame, who led the Tutsi rebel force that ended the genocide, views the FDLR as an existential threat. Rwanda has twice invaded DRC, citing the need to prevent cross-border attacks by Hutu rebel groups.
Kagame has criticized Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi for failing to address the FDLR and engage with the M23, accusing him of exacerbating the conflict.
The M23, which claims to defend the Tutsi community in eastern DRC, has a history of rebellion. Its first uprising over a decade ago ended with a peace deal, but the group re-emerged three years ago, alleging that the agreement was not honored.
The UN peacekeeping mission, deployed since 1999, has been unable to contain the M23, highlighting the group’s sophisticated operations. According to UN experts, M23 recruits undergo five months of training at a base near Rwanda’s border, with Rwandan officers often present.
The group’s recent capture of Rubaya, a mining town rich in coltan—a mineral used in electric vehicle and mobile phone batteries—has further fueled its financial strength. The UN estimates that the M23 collects at least $800,000 monthly from coltan taxation in Rubaya, with 120 tonnes of the mineral sent to Rwanda every four weeks.
Rwanda’s ally, Uganda, has also been accused of supporting the M23, with its officers spotted at rebel training camps. However, Uganda denies these allegations.
As the East African Community, led by Kenya’s president, attempts to mediate, President Tshisekedi has refused to attend an emergency summit. Observers believe Kagame will insist that the FDLR remains the primary issue, reiterating that their presence makes DRC an unsafe neighbor.
The conflict has displaced over 400,000 people this month alone, adding to the region’s longstanding humanitarian challenges. Clémentine de Montjoye, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the advanced weaponry used by the M23, including 122mm rockets that have struck displacement camps.
The UN has documented the use of Israeli-made anti-tank guided missiles and GPS jamming technology by the M23 and Rwandan forces, disrupting Congolese army operations and other aircraft.
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