Why Eastern DR Congo is Prone to Conflict
Historical Factors
- Influx of armed Hutu groups into Congo after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
- Long-standing ethnic tensions involving Tutsi communities in eastern DRC.
- Weak state control and presence of multiple foreign-backed militias.
Resource Wealth (Resource Curse)
Eastern DRC holds some of the world’s richest deposits of:
- Coltan (used in electronics)
- Cobalt & Lithium (key for EV batteries)
- Gold
- Cassiterite
Control of these minerals finances armed groups and fuels persistent conflict.
Multiplicity of Armed Actors
- Over 100+ militias operate in eastern DRC.
- Includes remnants of Rwandan genocidal groups (FDLR), local Mai-Mai militias, and cross-border rebel movements.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Location & Geography
- Country in Central Africa.
- Second-largest country in Africa (by area).
- Capital: Kinshasa.
- Key lakes: Tanganyika, Kivu, Albert, Edward.
Borders
- North: Central African Republic, South Sudan
- East: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania (via Lake Tanganyika)
- South: Zambia, Angola
- West: Republic of Congo, Atlantic Ocean
Natural Resources
- Industrial diamonds
- Copper
- Cobalt
- Gold
- Rare earth minerals
- Timber
These resources make the DRC strategically important but also heighten conflict risks.
M23 Rebel Group
- The March 23 Movement (M23) is an armed rebel group active in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- Formed in 2012 by former members of the CNDP (National Congress for the Defence of the People), a militia largely comprising Congolese Tutsis.
- Its name refers to a 23 March 2009 peace agreement, which the rebels claim the DRC government failed to uphold.
- The group primarily operates in North Kivu and has periodically seized major towns and transport corridors.
- M23 has been accused of receiving support from Rwanda, a claim Rwanda denies.
- The rebellion is linked to unresolved ethnic tensions between Hutu and Tutsi groups in the Great Lakes region.
