The M23 militia has cited Tutsis’ long-time marginalisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with roots in the 1994 Rwandan gen*cide, as its raison d’être. However, M23 appears to serve more so as an economic tool, facilitating the extraction and smuggling of minerals like gold and tantalum, which Rwanda exports despite possessing few domestic reserves.
Is the M23 a genuine defender of marginalised communities or merely a proxy force for Rwandan economic and geopolitical interests? Here is a history of the group. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Sources:
Guggenheim Scholars seek to uncover decades-old stories of Rwandans fleeing violence in Congo
https://www.thecollector.com/mobutu-congo-great-dictator/
https://www.newsweek.com/how-dispute-between-friends-congo-sparked-africas-deadliest-war-534272
https://rwandinfo.com/eng/kabarebe-rwanda-and-congos-killing-fields/
https://www.newsweek.com/how-dispute-between-friends-congo-sparked-africas-deadliest-war-534272
The Second Congo War: A forgotten tragedy
https://press.un.org/en/2002/sc7479.doc.htm
https://docs.un.org/S/2001/357
https://docs.un.org/S/2001/357
https://www.academia.edu/8011078/From_CNDP_to_M23_The_Evolution_of_an_Armed_Movement
https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/12/13/you-will-be-punished/attacks-civilians-eastern-congo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/mobile/newsid_7840000/newsid_7846300/7846339.stm
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2012/11/26/qa-behind-the-m23-mutiny-in-dr-congo/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/world/africa/congo-m23-rwanda.html
https://africacenter.org/spotlight/rwanda-drc-risk-of-war-new-m23-rebellion-emerges-explainer/
https://africacenter.org/spotlight/rwanda-drc-risk-of-war-new-m23-rebellion-emerges-explainer/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/24/rwandas-kagame-in-uganda-on-rare-visit-as-ties-warm
https://apnews.com/article/congo-mining-m23-un-security-council-b11207ba887b352d702c3e4603d0c891
https://www.ft.com/content/ecf89818-949b-4de7-9e8a-89f119c23a69