Conflict in the DRC

A few articles regarding Rwanda's Rule

The Rwandan backed MR23 rebellion has recently taken the town of Goma in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and as is usual with conflicts in Africa, they do not get as much coverage in the western (and South African) press as those in far away places such as Ukraine or Palestine.

There is a lot to this story that is still unfolding and with the little media coverage we probably won’t know the whole truth. Notably, the UN Security Council held a debate regarding a potential intervention—which is unlikely to occur, as the permanent members are not on speaking terms. Meanwhile, several South African soldiers serving in UN peacekeeping missions have been killed, and the airport in Goma has effectively been taken over by rebel forces.

From a historical perspective, it is important to reiterate that Paul Kagame’s regime (who is backing the rebels) has a longstanding history of violence in the region. Notably, Kagame has made it illegal in Rwanda to question his involvement in the 1994 genocide, as documented by public intellectuals such as Edward Herman and Canadian defense lawyers like Christopher Black. These sources are important for anyone who wants to understand the historical context surrounding the conflict that go back to the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.

As for the current events, below are a few videos that friends who are doing business in the region sent me of South African soldiers receiving gunfire from the rebel groups. As well of soldiers that are marching into town,

As well as the following message. I am sharing all of this to create a bit of awareness on how serious the situation is.

• M23 and RW Forces Enter Goma
  M23 and RW forces marched into Goma yesterday, establishing control over the city.

• Goma Airport Under M23/RW Control
  Goma airport is now under M23/RW control, and they have declared a no-fly zone over the city.

• Romanian Mercenaries Surrender
  Approximately 400 Romanian mercenaries hired by the DRC surrendered quickly and sought refuge in the UN camp. They have since handed over their weapons to M23/RW forces.

• Rocket Attack on IDP Camp
  A rocket was fired into an IDP camp, tragically killing many babies and children. M23/RW claims that heavy weapons are being positioned within the camps, a claim the DRC government denies.

• US Congress to Issue Statement
  The US Congress is expected to release a statement on the situation soon.

• UN Security Council Meeting Disappoints
  The UN Security Council held a three-hour meeting on the crisis, but the discussions were notably weak. Their focus seems to remain on other global hotspots like Ukraine and Gaza, rather than Africa. This neglect is unfortunately not a new phenomenon.

• M23 Calls for Tshisekedi's Resignation
  M23 is calling for President Tshisekedi to step down, citing the “liberation of the people of the DRC” as their aim. However, the people of the DRC remain overwhelmingly loyal to their nation, with the government and political establishment united behind the Head of State, despite some opposition figures attempting to exploit the crisis.