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