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Rwanda's Support for M23 Rebels Intensifies Conflict in Eastern DR Congo

As M23 rebels advance towards Goma, international efforts to mediate peace face significant challenges.

  • Intense fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, is exacerbating the security crisis in eastern DR Congo, forcing over 100,000 civilians to flee.
  • Rwanda's backing of the M23 rebels, accused of serving Rwandan interests, includes funding, training, and equipping, despite international calls for withdrawal.
  • The conflict has spilled over into the wider Great Lakes region, with accusations of Rwanda exploiting Congo's gold as a source of revenue and maintaining a sphere of influence in eastern Congo.
  • Efforts to find lasting peace, including a mini-summit hosted by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, face obstacles as Rwanda remains a critical geopolitical player, resistant to sanctions.
  • The situation risks sparking a regional war, with M23's siege of Goma drawing in troops from multiple countries and escalating tensions.
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