KINSHASA, Congo — This year, Congo’s Prime Minister announced that over 7,000 individuals have lost their lives as the M23 rebels, allegedly supported by Rwanda, continue to expand their control over vast territories in the mineral-rich eastern part of the country. Judith Suminwa Tuluka addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council, emphasizing that the security and humanitarian conditions in the affected areas have deteriorated significantly.
In recent weeks, the hostilities have intensified. The M23 rebels seized the strategic city of Goma in January, followed by Bukavu, another important provincial capital, shortly thereafter. The M23 group stands out as the most formidable among the nearly 100 armed factions competing for influence in eastern Congo, a region that is estimated to possess trillions of dollars in untapped mineral resources that are vital to global technology industries.
The United Nations has raised alarms about the escalating situation, highlighting the looming danger to the region that has experienced prolonged and unresolved conflicts, resulting in the displacement of millions of people. The M23 rebels have articulated their ambition to overthrow the government of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who has struggled to maintain effective governance in the eastern provinces. Despite international appeals for a ceasefire, the rebels persist in their efforts to secure further territory and are bolstered by approximately 4,000 troops from Rwanda, which is located a short drive from Goma.
The leadership of M23 has pledged to eliminate cities of what they term as poor governance and threats to security. Their recent advances have led to a looming threat over the city of Uriva, where gunfire was reported just this past weekend. M23 claims that its actions are aimed at defending ethnic Tutsis and Congolese individuals of Rwandan descent from discrimination, while advocating for a transformation of Congo from a failed state into a modern nation.
However, analysts argue that these claims serve merely as justifications for Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict. In Goma, witnesses have reported that the M23’s intelligence unit is actively hunting for former Congolese soldiers and criminals, though many individuals have been wrongly identified. Tragically, it was reported that 11 young individuals were killed on Sunday as they awaited a weightlifting class, having been mistakenly identified as thieves.
