“For three years, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been caught in a violent conflict between the army and the M23 rebel group, resulting in numerous casualties and the displacement of nearly two million people. M23 originated from a mutiny within the Congolese national army (FARDC) in 2012 and has since engaged in armed battles with the army and allied “Wazalendo” self-defence groups, seizing control of territory in North Kivu province. The group claims to be fighting for the rights of minority Congolese Tutsis who face discrimination due to their ethnic ties to Rwanda’s Tutsi community. The situation has escalated regional tensions, with accusations against Rwanda for supporting M23, although Rwanda denies these claims. Despite various ceasefire attempts and mediation efforts, including the 2022 Nairobi peace process and recent initiatives by Angola, the conflict persists. Bertrand Bisimwa, a leader of M23, asserts that they are engaged in a defensive war to protect their citizens from violence and marginalization. The group’s recent clashes with government forces in Great North Kivu were a response to ongoing attacks and attempts to regain lost territory. M23’s actions are seen by some as expansionist, but the group maintains that they are simply defending themselves and their people. The refusal of the Congolese government to engage in dialogue with M23 has hindered peaceful conflict resolution, with accusations of M23 being a proxy for Rwanda complicating negotiations. Despite these challenges, M23 remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and addressing the root causes of the ongoing violence.”
