Thursday, November 22, 2012
The March 23 Movement (M23) militia captured the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) city of Goma Tuesday, largely without resistance from the Congolese military or United Nations intervention; they have continued to advance on regional villages, where the response of additional local factions has led to violence and civilian displacement.
On Monday, M23 fired on targets near the North Kivu province city of Goma, with mortars and machine guns. The M23 militia unsuccessfully demanded President Joseph Kabila's government begin negotiations for the group's withdrawal from the Goma area. M23 also demanded the DRC government demilitarize Goma and open the international border at Bunagana. The Congolese government refused to negotiate.
On Tuesday, M23 approached the city. The DRC military withdrew from the area while UN forces stood aside. The French ambassador from the UN said their role is not to engage in a civil war, but rather to protect civilians.
Once Goma was under M23 control, the militia turned its efforts to surrounding areas. The M23 captured the small town of Sake, about 27 km (17 mi) west of Goma. Congolese military units and other local combatants engaged with the M23 near Sake while Local civilians fled the violence.
People struggled to escape the violence, with what few of their possessions they could carry in plastic bags, thrown across a shoulder, or carried on top of their heads. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has an established camp for internally displaced people near Mugunga, about 10km from Goma. Families huddled together at Mugunga among piles of their belongings. Oxfam International recently estimated more than 50,000 people are refugees of the conflict.
The DRC government has expressed belief that the M23 group is operating as an extension of the Rwandan Army. A leaked report from the UN Security Council alleged that Rwanda, as well as Uganda, supplied mortars and other military equipment, as well as logistics, to the rebels. Rwanda has denied involvement. The DRC has called for international sanctions on Rwanda to discourage support for the M23 forces.
The presidents of DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda, meeting in Kampala, Uganda, called on the militia to end their occupation of areas they have taken. M23 spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vianney Kazarama has said the group intend to seize the eastern town of Bukavu.
The M23 group emerged from a previous military group called the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP). The M23 group defected in April, claiming Congolese government disregard of a peace accord from March 23, 2009 between the government and the CNDP.
DRC is a resource rich area. It is one of the world's primary producers of several minerals used in electronics manufacturing, including Wolframite and Coltan. The wealth in minerals and diamonds has enticed many groups to attempt to gain control of the region, and has been the cause of prior conflicts.
Sources
- "DRC: Thousands reported newly displaced in North Kivu" — trust.org, November 23, 2012
- Edmund Kagire (AP). "Congo rebels, military battle over eastern town" — Boston.com, November 22, 2012
- Gabe Joselow. "Tens of Thousands Flee M23 Fighting Near Goma" — Voice of America, November 22, 2012
- Peter Fabricius. "DRC unrest: SA troops ‘not in danger’" — Independent Online (South Africa), November 21, 2012
- "As fighting reaches Goma, UNHCR asking states not to return refugees" — UNHCR, November 20, 2012
- Armin Rosen. "After the Fall of Goma: The M23 Conflict's Western Front" — The Atlantic, November 20, 2012
- Melanie Gouby and Rukmini Callimachi (AP). "Congo Violence: Rebels Attack Provincial Capital of Goma" — The Huffington Post, November 19, 2012
- Josh Kron. "Congo Forces and Rebels Resume Fight for Goma" — The New York Times, November 19, 2012
- Emily Alpert. "Violence escalates near Goma in Democratic Republic of the Congo" — Los Angeles Times, November 19, 2012
- Jonny Hogg. "Rwanda accuses Congo of shelling border town" — Reuters, November 19,2012
- Peter Clottey. "DRC Urges Sanctions on Rwanda for Support of M23 Rebels" — Voice of America, November 19, 2012
- "DRC Gov’t Urged to Negotiate With M23 Rebels" — IGIHE, November 19 2012
- Sapa-AFP. "Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi involvement alleged in DRC" — The Times (South Africa), November 18, 2012
- Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols. "Exclusive: Rwanda, Uganda arming Congo rebels, providing troops - U.N. panel" — Reuters, October 17, 2012
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