In international news, the seizure of multiple major cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by rebel group M23 has made global headlines. One of the aspects garnering the most attention, however, is the supposed backing of M23 by the Rwandan government and troops. But how did it get to this point?
Belgian Colonialism
After the first world war, Belgium took control of Rwanda. This followed decades of German rule. The Belgian rule continued until Rwanda’s independence in 1962. During this time, the Belgian government widened the gap between the ethnic Hutu and Tutsi groups. Belgium would give preferential treatment to the Tutsis, including giving some roles of power. This led to tension between the groups. This would lay some of the groundwork that would lead to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
The Rwandan Genocide
Conflict between Rwanda and the DRC is not a new development. Most can be traced back to the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. During this tragedy, around 800,000 Rwandans were killed, and thousands of women were victims of sexual violence. Most were a part of the Tutsi minority ethnic group. Most perpetrators were extremists who were members of the Hutu ethnic group, which made up most of Rwandan citizens at the time. Many victims were also moderate Hutus.
This genocide lasted 100 days, and was preceded by years of civil war between the Hutu led Rwandan government and the Tutsi rebel force named the Rwandan Patriotic Front. The genocide was carried out after the death of the then Hutu president of Rwanda, Juvénal Habyarimana. In July of that year, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) was able to seize the capital Kigali, winning the civil war and ending the Tutsi genocide.
Following the genocide, millions of Hutus fled to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo fearing the punishment if they stayed. Many of them simply sought refuge. A much smaller amount of fleeing Hutus formed extremist militant groups.
The First Congo War
The conflict between the DRC and Rwanda began when the RPF invaded the DRC in 1996. The RPF justified this by saying the groups of Hutus in the DRC posed a risk to Rwandan Tutsis, and they were going after those responsible for the genocide. Rwanda was joined in its opposition to the DRC with Uganda, Angola and Burundi.
The DRC, then led by dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, also faced opposition within its own borders. The Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) opposed Mobutu, and included Tutsis who lived in the DRC. This group was led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, and was allied and backed by Rwanda.
After capturing multiple major DRC cities, including Goma, pressure from the AFDL forced dictator Mobutu into exile. Following this, the AFDL took the DRC capital Kinshasa and Rwanda backed rebellion leader Kabila took control of the country. This momentarily ended conflict between the DRC and Rwanda, as the Rwandan government had helped instate the new DRC leader.
This first war ended the following year, in 1997. Such a short war, however, still had large consequences. Civilian deaths for this conflict reached into the tens of thousands, and over a million were displaced or seeking refuge in surrounding countries, including Rwanda.
The Second Congo War
Just one year later, newly appointed leader Kabila ordered all foreign armies to leave the country. This included Rwandan soldiers. This ended the alliance between Rwanda and the AFDL. Prompted by this and DRC Hutu extremist attacks on Rwandan soil, Rwanda, once again, invades the DRC.
This war is also called the African World War. This refers to the large number of countries involved in the conflict. Sided with Rwanda against Kabila were Uganda and Burundi, as well as DRC rebel group the Rally for Congolese Democracy (CRD). Allied with Kabila were fellow nations Angola, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
By summer of 1999, DRC forces were able to drive invading troops into just the eastern part of the country, However, the fight was far from over. In July of 1999, the six countries agreed to a ceasefire. This agreement, known as The Lusaka Accord, ruled that all foreign armies must withdraw from the country. This did not end the bloodshed, and rebel groups inside the country continued to fight. Ugandan and Rwandan troops also remained in the country.
In early 2001, peace had still not been reached. Notably, Congolese president Kabila was assassinated by his 20-year-old bodyguard. He was immediately succeeded by his son, Joseph Kabila, who was not yet thirty. After the assassination, president Joseph Kabila followed more closely to the Lusaka Accord.
Following the beginning of his presidency, Kabila met with Rwandan president Paul Kagame, former leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, in order to discuss peace. Following this meeting, Uganda and Rwanda agreed to rescind their troops from DRC territory.
In 2002, Kabila and Kagame signed a peace agreement and Uganda and Rwanda had largely removed their armies from the country. This did not mark the end of widespread violence. Domestic rebel groups refused to sign peace agreements. The official end to the Second Congo War came in 2003, when a new DRC constitution was signed and rebel groups agreed to peace.
After five years of fighting, the destruction and humanitarian crisis caused by this war were widespread and massive. Millions were displaced by the fighting. Even more horrifically, an estimated 3.5 million people were killed in this conflict alone, from a combination of fighting, starvation, and disease. Most of these deaths were civilian deaths.
Formation of the March 23 Movement
Currently, most tension between the two countries comes from the recent fighting and upheaval caused by the rebel militia March 23 (M23). Majorly, this group has recently taken control of multiple major eastern cities in the DRC, including Goma. Goma is one of the largest cities in the DRC, and the conflict has so far led to over two thousand dead and many more displaced.
While the large amounts of land gained by the M23 militia earlier this year made headlines, the M23 rebel group is not new. In 2006, a DRC rebel group named the National Conference for the Defence of the People (CNDP). This group's stated intent was to protect the ethnic Tutsis of the DRC from extremist Hutus. It also opposed the congolese government.
Efforts by the group led to around hundreds of thousands of citizens of the DRC displaced and numerous killings. Sexual assault was also used as a weapon of war by CNDP fighters, violating war crime laws. The actions of the CNDP eventually led to the arrest of rebel leader Nkunda. The arrest was a joint operation between the DRC and Rwanda, temporarily alleviating some tension between the countries.
After the arrest of its leader, the CNDP agreed to a peace agreement with the DRC government. This came with the terms that fighters from the CNDP could become a part of the Congolese government and parts of the CNDP could become a recognized political party. This agreement came on the 23rd of March, 2009.
In 2012, multiple former CNDP fighters mutinied from the Congolese army. They formed a new rebellion, with the claimed goal of protecting Congolese Tutsis and opposing Hutu extremists. They named their group March 23, after the date of the original peace agreement.
History of M23 Conflict
That same year, the militia took control of Goma. This new bout of fighting led to about half a million citizens displaced. Over the next year, the rebellion was able to gain more ground. The UN as well as the DRC partially attributed this to Rwanda backing the militia. Rwanda, however, has denied this claim.
In 2013, the UN deployed troops to assist the DRC in its fight against M23 soldiers. Together, the armies were able to mostly best the rebellion, and M23 admitted defeat. M23 remained relatively dormant until 2021, when it once again became active. Over the next couple of years, it was able to once again gain control of swathes of land in the Eastern DRC. One of the most notable advancements came earlier this year, when the M23 militia once again gained control of Goma.
The cities seized also stand out as important mining towns, with access to minerals used in most modern technology. This is strategically sound for M23, as it allows them to bring in hundreds of thousands USD per month through exporting and smuggling these minerals. Rwanda is also accused of continuing to support the M23 movement, and Rwandan soldiers have been seen fighting alongside M23 troops.
Impacts of the M23 Conflict and DRC-Rwanda Conflict
This year alone, hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes as a result of the capturing of large eastern DRC cities. Thousands have been killed. In general, conflict in the DRC has led to over 7 million civilians displaced, according to the UN. Effects of this mass insecurity have led to widespread starvation and disease in the DRC. One major issue plaguing the DRC is also sexual violence, with armies and militias alike exploiting women and girls in this time of crisis.
Since the beginning of the First Congo War, an estimated 6 million people have been killed. With Rwanda’s continued backing of the M23 rebel group, the flames are once again stoked for a possible war between the countries. This would undoubtedly lead to an even more extreme death toll. The current humanitarian crisis is drastic. Millions are in temporary housing or shelter, and many do not have access to proper food, water, or medical treatment.
While not the largest militia, the threat posed by the M23 cannot be understated. The fighting and possibility of further war, paired with a massive humanitarian crisis, solidifies this as one of the largest and most pressing issues of the time.
Connection to the Stuart Hall Community
Stuart Hall prides itself on a strong sense of community. The most crucial characteristics of which include care and curiosity about fellow students and where they come from. Because of this, it is important to understand the different struggles facing Stuart Hall students. Since multiple STU students hail from either the DRC or Rwanda, it is relevant to discuss such topics in the school newspaper.
Fatiya Buamunda, ‘27, is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She shared that it was not too long ago that she had learned about the M23 group, however, she added that it has already had a large impact on her life. She went on to share that “I was supposed to spend all my holidays back home, but I can’t do it now because of what’s going on.” She disagrees with claims that the militia was of Congolese origin, and that, “Rwandese claim to say that the M23 are Congolese people which does not make sense," and that Rwandan citizens have taken refuge in that area of the DRC since the Rwandan genocide.
On the other hand, Enzo Ruberwa, ‘25, comes from Rwanda. Enzo stated, “I first started hearing about M23 from many Congolese people in 2018”. He went on to say that he was initially “shocked” by accounts that the militia consisted of Rwandese fighters.
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Amory Harris