The M23 Rebel Crisis

 

The ceasefire between the M23 rebels and the government of the Democratic Republic of The Congo is breaking down. The rebellion started in 2012 and the DRC declared the conflict over. However, clashes still continue. The reason the M23 rebels exist is due to the fall out of the Second Congolese Civil War. The violence has caused Angola to send forces to the DRC. The area of conflict is focused in North-Kivu province. Kenya is also becoming involved in the DRC. Seeing as the zone of war borders Rwanda and Uganda these countries might also be active. Rwanda has been accused of aiding the M23 rebels. President Paul Kagame has denied the allegations of instigating rebellion. Questions also remain about Uganda's role in the internal affairs of the DRC. The United Nations deployment of peacekeepers has not been effective. A total of eight countries were involved in the civil war that lasted from 1998 to 2003. The reason Rwanda takes interest in the DRC is due to Hutu armed groups. Some could have been involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The roots of the rebellion are in ethnic conflict and isolation of minorities. The Tutsi minority and deserters from the DRC's army would form what are now the M23 rebels. There is no indication that this was a product of foreign conspiracy. The origin was indigenous. The Democratic Republic of the Congo cannot function with civil war, foreign intervention, and failed UN missions. The African Union should take a more active role in stabilizing the DRC. Much of this has to do with addressing the discord of the Tutsis and the general frustration of the citizens. President Felix Tshisekedi wants to see economic development projects continue, but this cannot be done with war in the east. The end of the government coalition with Joseph Kabila and his political allies. The M23 rebels are going to be a major concern in the general elections. The fear is that another full scale civil war could break out. So far, the M23 rebels have been contained. If  their forces become stronger and capture more territory, then the DRC will be in another civil war.