Context:

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing a resurgence of violence as the M23 rebels, an ethnic Tutsi-led militant group, intensify their attacks in the eastern region. Recently, they captured key locations like Goma and are advancing further into South Kivu, escalating the conflict.

Reason behinds ethnic conflict:

The conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has its roots in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which was a devastating event where extremist Hutus targeted and killed hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and Hutu moderates. This genocide not only devastated Rwanda but also led to a massive refugee crisis.

Following the genocide, around two million Rwandan refugees, including many Hutu fighters, fled across the border into eastern Congo. This created tensions between the local Congolese populations and the Rwandan refugees, particularly as some of these refugees included former Hutu militia members who had been involved in the genocide. The presence of these fighters in eastern Congo escalated ethnic tensions, leading to further violence and instability in the region.

The situation was exacerbated by the formation of militias like the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), made up of these Hutu refugees, which continued to attack Tutsi populations in both Rwanda and Congo. In response, ethnic Tutsi groups in eastern Congo formed militias to protect themselves, leading to a cycle of violence that has persisted for decades.

Who Are the M23 Rebels?

The M23, or March 23 Movement, is a group of ethnic Tutsi insurgents who first emerged in 2012 following a breakdown of a peace deal signed in 2009 between the Congolese government and another Tutsi-led group, the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP).

·        The M23 name is derived from the March 23, 2009, ceasefire agreement that ended a previous Tutsi-led rebellion. However, the M23 broke away, accusing the Congolese government of failing to integrate Tutsis into the army and broader political structures.

·        The group's primary aim is to defend the interests of the Tutsi community, especially against ethnic Hutu militias such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

·        The FDLR is composed of Hutu fighters who fled to Congo after participating in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which saw the mass slaughter of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The M23 sees itself as the protector of Tutsi civilians, facing constant threats from these militias.

The Role of Rwanda

Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict is a critical factor in the current escalation. The Congolese government and the United Nations have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels by deploying troops and supplying heavy weaponry. A 2022 UN report claimed to have evidence of Rwandan forces fighting alongside the M23.

However, Rwanda's government has denied these allegations, arguing that it is only acting defensively in response to the presence of FDLR fighters in Congo, who have targeted Tutsis in Rwanda and Congo alike.