Rwanda’s Role in DRC Crisis Ignites Global Tensions with 1 Million Lives at Stake
Rwanda is accused of sending its troops into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to help the M23 rebels capture Goma, the regional capital, before an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Secretly, RDF intelligence reports say, Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) soldiers have crossed the border to intensify the offensive near Goma.
RDF has placed troops and senior commanders in Gisenyi, literally on the other side of the border from Goma, sources claim RDF is seeking to capture Goma before international intervention can happen.
Clashes between M23 fighters and the Congolese army on the outskirts of Goma have been fierce. Despite the Congolese army receding a major offensive, the fighting is down to Goma’s defences. Over a million people have been displaced, and supplies to Goma have been brought to a standstill by the violent conflict.
The UN has called for an emergency session, and the EU has called on Rwanda to stop supporting M23. But Rwanda denies working with the militia.
The situation remains dire, with water and power shortages making Goma’s conditions worse. Human rights groups stress the need to protect civilians and to get humanitarian aid to the affected areas as soon as possible.
Some critics say Western nations are not doing enough to push Rwandan President Paul Kagame to stop the alleged aggression. The region remains unstable and uncertain as tensions rise.
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