M23, a rebel group fighting for the rights of Congo's Tutsi ethnic minority, has captured the mineral-rich city of Goma, marking a major setback for the Congolese government.
The group was formed after a failed peace agreement in 2009 and has fought intermittently with the Congolese government.
Congo and UN experts accuse Rwanda, led by a Tutsi government, of supporting M23, though Rwanda denies this.
Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, called for a ceasefire after M23 captured Goma, but it had little impact.
The conflict traces back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when Hutu militias killed around 800,000 Tutsis.
Thousands of Hutus fled to Congo, leading to local Tutsis taking up arms in self-defense.
Rwanda is now stronger than it was in 2012, with a modernized military and economy.
Rwanda has developed strong ties with Western nations, and Kagame is seen as a stabilizing force in the region.
The conflict reflects the unresolved ethnic tensions in the region, rooted in the Rwandan genocide and continuing insecurity, 30 years after it ended.
The international community is urged to pressure Kagame to stop supporting M23, while Congo should address groups linked to the genocide on its soil and work toward reconciliation with its Tutsi minorities.
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