What are the M23 rebels fighting for?
The group’s leadership is made up of members of the Tutsi ethnic group who say their aim is to fight against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia founded by Hutus who fled Rwanda following their involvement in human rights atrocities against the Tutsis.
How many rebels are in Congo?
There are about 120 rebel groups operating in eastern DRC, but the ADF, with an estimated 1,500 fighters, is a particular threat.
Why are there Rebels in Congo?
The origins of the current violence in the DRC are in the massive refugee crisis and spillover from the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. After Hutu génocidaires fled to eastern DRC and formed armed groups, opposing Tutsi and other opportunistic rebel groups arose.
Who supports M23?
It was composed of former members of the rebel CNDP, and allegedly sponsored by the government of the neighbouring states of Rwanda and Uganda. On 20 November 2012, M23 rebels took control of Goma, a North Kivu provincial capital with a population of one million people.
Is Congo still at war?
The war officially ended in July 2003, when the Transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo took power.
Are there still rebels in Congo?
After a ten-year lull, M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo have attacked Congolese soldiers. As a result, tens of thousands of people have fled to neighboring Uganda, fearing renewed violence.
Who defeated M23?
DR Congo army
Group ends 20-month campaign after army captures last hilltop strongholds, raising hopes of peace breakthrough.
What did M23 want?
Formation. The M23 was formed on 4 April 2012 when nearly 300 soldiers – the majority of them former members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) – turned against the DRC government, citing poor conditions in the army and the government’s unwillingness to implement the 23 March 2009 peace deal.