Congo

3.Congo: Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo entered Goma (capital of North Kivu) and seized the airport.

  • About the M23 rebels: M23 refers to the March 23, 2009 accord that ended a Tutsi-led revolt in eastern Congo.

o Launched the current rebellion in 2022.

o Accuses Congo’s government of failing to integrate Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration.

o Vows to defend Tutsi interests against Hutu militias, especially the FDLR (founded by Hutus who fled after the 1994 Rwanda genocide).

  • Rwanda involved: Congo, UN, and Western powers (including the U.S.) accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 by deploying troops and weapons in eastern Congo.
  • About Democratic Republic of the Congo: A country in Central Africa. By land area, the DRC is the second-largest country in Africa and the 11th-largest in the world. 

o Bordered by:  The Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania (across Lake Tanganyika), Zambia, Angola, the Cabinda exclave of Angola, and the South Atlantic Ocean.

  • Geographical features of DRC:

o Congo River: Flows through DRC & Republic of the Congo, Africa’s 2nd longest river.

o Katanga Province: A mineral-rich region in DRC, known for cobalt, copper, tin, radium, uranium, and diamonds.

o Sahara Desert: World’s largest hot desert, covering North African countries with arid landscapes & extreme temperatures.

o Nile River: World’s longest river, flowing through 11 countries, crucial for ancient civilizations & development.