M23 rebellion
| 2012 East DR Congo conflict | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Kivu conflict | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
supported by:  Rwanda[citation needed] |
 Democratic Republic of Congo United Nations | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Bosco Ntaganda Sultani Makenga | Joseph Kabila | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 200 killed, 250 wounded, 374 captured[1][2] | 40 killed, 93 wounded,[2] 600 deserted[3] | ||||
| 1 Indian UN peacekeeper killed | |||||
The 2012 East DR Congo mutiny is a continuation of fighting that has gone on in North Kivu since the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2002-03. In April 2012, soldiers mutinied against the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mutineers formed a rebel group called the March 23 Movement (M23), composed of former members of the rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). Former CNDP commander Bosco Ntaganda, known as "the Terminator" is accused of leading the mutiny.[4]
Background
In March 2009, the CNDP signed a peace treaty with the government, in which it agreed to become a political party in exchange for the release of its imprisoned members.[5] On 4 April 2012, it was reported that Ntaganda and 300 loyal troops defected from the DRC and clashed with government forces in the Rutshuru region North of Goma. [6]
Congo Siasa's Jason Stearns reported on 4 May 2012 that Colonel Sultani Makenga had joined the CNDP/M23 mutiny. Starns commented that '[t]his is a significant development, since Makenga was the second highest ranking CNDP officer behind Bosco in the Amani Leo structure as the deputy commander of South Kivu.'[7]
A UN report discovered rebels were getting support from Rwanda.[8] 25 Rwandan members of M23 have surrendered to Congolese forces as part of a total of over 370 M23 soldiers that have surrendered so far.[1]
Events
On 6 July 2012, M23 attacked and took the town of Bunagana less than a kilometer from the border with Uganda. Some 600 DRC troops fled across the border and took refuge in Uganda. The rebels issued a statement that they would cease their offensive if the government agreed to holding peace talks with them. The United Nations condemned rebel attacks in the region after an Indian peacekeeper was killed in the fighting.[9]
On 8 July 2012, the rebels captured Rutshuru, 70 kilometers north of Goma, and by early on 10 July, they were 40 kilometers from Goma itself. Witnesses said rebels appeared to be taking towns and villages with ease, with government troops usually melting away.[10] The towns of Rubare and Ntamugenga had also reportedly fallen to the rebels.[11]
On 20 July 2012 M23 and government forces exchanged heavy weapons fire around Kibumba and Rugari, forcing thousands of civilians to flee towards Goma. U.N. helicopter gunships were seen headed towards the frontline. The security situation in Eastern Congo is rapidly becoming worse.[12][13]
The US government has said on 21 July 2012 that it will cut military aid to Rwanda.[14] US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen Rapp told that Rwandan authorities could be charged for aiding and abetting war crimes. There is a line that one can cross under international law where you can be held responsible for aiding a group in a way that makes possible their commission of atrocities[15]
Rwanda has denied reports by United Nations experts and rights groups that it is backing eastern Congolese rebels, including the M23 group, which has seized parts of North Kivu province in fighting that has displaced over 260,000 people since April.[14] Rwanda however has large economic gains in exploiting the DRC's mineral wealth, such as coltan.[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b Clashes in eastern DR Congo claim lives Al Jazeera 6/6/12
- ^ a b Al menos 240 muertos en Congo tras combate entre Ejército y amotinados, RPP NOTICIAS
- ^ DR Congo rebel chief pledges to withdraw from captured towns
- ^ DR Congo troops shell rebel bases - Africa - Al Jazeera English
- ^ "DR Congo government, CNDP rebels 'sign peace deal'", AFP, 24 March 2009
- ^ Congo-Kinshasa: General Ntaganda and Loyalists Desert Armed Forces 4/4/2012
- ^ Jason Stearns, Col Makenga joins rebellion, 4 May 2012
- ^ Rwanda 'supporting DR Congo mutineers', BBC News
- ^ Congo rebels offer peace talks with government
- ^ DR Congo rebels 'advance on Goma'
- ^ DR Congo rebels seize strategic town of Rutshuru
- ^ "Thousands flee heavy fighting between Congo army, rebels". Reuters India. Retrieved 2012-July-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Democratic Republic of the Congo". Country Risk Index. Retrieved 2012-July-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b "Rwanda cut off from US military aid over conflict in DRC". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-July-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Rwanda's Paul Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-July-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Coltan: What You Should Know". Congo Week. Retrieved 2012-July-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)