The United States sanctioned a Rwandan minister and M23 spokesperson for alleged roles in the DRC conflict. M23’s unopposed advance through Bukavu and Goma, with suspected Rwandan military support, prompted concerns from analysts. The group is part of ongoing instability involving numerous armed factions vying for mineral resources. Both Rwanda and Uganda’s roles complicate the situation, as calls for dialogue persist amid escalating tensions and regional critique of international inaction.
The United States has imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and the spokesperson of the M23 rebel group for their alleged roles in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This follows the unopposed march of M23 fighters through Bukavu and their takeover of Goma, which is the largest city in eastern Congo. Analysts suggest that these developments are not surprising, with claims of the M23 receiving substantial support from Rwanda, a nation characterized by its formidable military presence.
Sasha Lezhnev, a senior policy adviser at The Sentry, highlighted findings from numerous United Nations reports indicating that Rwanda has been involved in arming and supporting the M23 group. “The latest report in December stated that Rwanda had three to four thousand of its own troops in the DRC,” Lezhnev noted. Despite Rwanda’s denials, he asserts that the current crisis could have been averted had international attention remained focused on the region.
Lezhnev further indicated that since 2023, the United States had brokered an intelligence-sharing agreement and sanctioned certain Rwandan generals connected with the M23. In response, Rwanda allegedly escalated its military engagement, promoting involved generals while the DRC failed to uphold its commitment to cease support for the FDLR, a rebel group with links to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
The M23, formed in 2012 and initially pushed back the following year, is part of a persistent conflict involving over 130 armed groups in eastern DRC, predominantly seeking control over the region’s mineral wealth. Claude Gatebuke, a Rwandan genocide survivor, argues that both Rwanda and Uganda, under their respective leaders, are complicit in exploiting Congolese resources for the benefit of Western multinationals.
Mvemba Phezo Dizolele from the Center for Strategic and International Studies described the situation as complex, with Uganda simultaneously engaging in military operations alongside Congolese forces against the ADF while allegedly contributing to regional instability. Despite this, President Museveni expressed a willingness to support peace efforts in the DRC.
M23 leaders have indicated ambitions that could extend to Kinshasa, raising questions about their objectives. While some speculate they intend to maintain control over the Kivu regions, others, including Gatebuke, contend they aim to establish a separate governance structure in the DRC. The M23 recently reiterated its call for dialogue with the DRC government, echoing sentiments from DRC President Felix Tshisekedi at the Munich Security Conference, who criticized international inaction regarding Rwanda’s involvement in the rising violence.
In response to the sanctions, Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe defended his nation, asserting that such punitive measures are counterproductive to peace efforts. He emphasized Rwanda’s focus on maintaining secure borders amid escalating tensions involving hostile forces, including the Congolese military and the FDLR, who remain unsanctioned.
The recent sanctions imposed by the United States on officials connected to the M23 highlight the ongoing complexities and challenges facing the DRC. With Rwanda allegedly supporting the M23, the situation remains precarious, emphasizing the need for dialogue and international engagement. The interplay between various armed groups and external influences, particularly from Rwanda and Uganda, complicates efforts toward achieving stability in the region. Enhanced attention and cooperation among international actors may be necessary to ameliorate the conflict and promote lasting peace in the DRC.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
