In parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), societies are preparing for war or fleeing safety amid the progress of the M23 rebels, who have seized the main eastern cities of Juma and Bucavu in recent weeks, leaving the destruction in their wake.

The rebel group, which the United Nations is supported by neighboring Rwanda, also closed on Walikale, a main mining center, while Kinshasa’s offer to A. $ 5 million bonus To capture M23 leaders did not slow down the group.

While the M23 is running in the north and south of Kivu, the Ugandan forces have intensified publishing operations across their borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the province of Itori, just a few hours from the rebel -controlled areas. The Ugandan army says it is fighting allied democratic forces (ADF) and cooperation in the development of Congo – two of several armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recently witnessed Codeco attacks on civilians in February at least 51 people who were killed, prompting Uganda to send additional soldiers to increase its deployment of 5,000 people inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

For political observers, the increasing presence of both Rwandan soldiers and Oujndis In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there is a strange restoration of a painful past, who are afraid that it will again lead to a greater and regional war if they are not possible.

Analyst Paul Nantolia of the Center for Strategic Studies in the “Great Africa War” said when it benefited from the leading roles that the countries played in what is now referred to as the “Great Africa War” when they benefited from Rwandan and Agandan roles that the Radical Council forces are already witnessing a true copy of the second Congo war with the same actors but in a little different formations. “

Many African countries also followed their example, and supported either the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the Rwandan -led side, as well as dozens of local militias on either side. The result was a humanitarian crisis that witnessed an estimated five million deaths; The Democratic Republic of the Congo looted mineral resources such as gold. And dozens of armed groups, including M23.

At that time, thousands of all over the world protested against atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and called for ending looting and killing. Today, illegal mining and smuggling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo – which provides 70 percent of the global supply of Carlitan and Cobalt that indicate electronics – largely, as well as deaths and displacement due to the activity of the armed group.

Nantolia added: “The appetite for political negotiations is low, and international pressure and forced measures did not have the impact of the deterrent that they had previously in the previous crisis attacks,” noting the European Union’s suspension to support the military aid of Rwanda, and US sanctions On the main Rwandan army officials.

The date of overlap

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was in the midst of the low -level conflict More than three decades. At that time, more than six million people were killed, and millions are more than the displaced.

A complex mixture of issues is responsible, among them: the grievances written by Kigali that the Democratic Republic of the Congo includes the anti -Damanda rebels who fled after the genocide in Tutsi in 1994; Ethnic tensions between Congolese Tutsi and their neighbors; Getting to the mineral resources in East DRC is unsafe. Corruption in the Congolese government.

Rwanda’s invasion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was prompted by the first and second wars of the Congo (1996-1997 and 1998-2003), and Kigali claimed that it was following the rigidity of the Huto who fled across the border. After President Paul Kajami’s army in Rwanda in 1994 assumed, the Hutu group gathered in refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they launched renewable attacks on Tutsi.

Uganda, where Kagami and his forces trained for years before he took power in Kigali, joined the Rwanda team in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Then both countries supported the Kungoli rebel group, led by Laurent Capella, to cancel a dictator, President Moboto Sis Siko. Mobutu had, at the time, many regional enemies. Many Capella supported by sending weapons or weapons, including Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Africa.

However, when Capella, when obtaining power in 1997, turned on its sides and ordered the Rwandan and Ugandan forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo within one day, Kigali grew. In 1998, Rwanda and Uganda again invaded, and the Tutsi militia, which occupied resource -rich parts of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Capella managed to gather other African countries to his side, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Chad and Angola, which has now turned alongside a new government. The United Nations has published the peacekeeping force, monusco. Capella also recruited the help of the Hutu militia groups in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, deepening ethnic tensions with the Congolese Tutsi who are seen as supporters of Roda.

Looting and violations of rights

The Congo wars ended in 2003, but low -density violence continues, prompting some experts to say that it has never ended.

Many reports in the aftermath of the United Nations, Rwanda and Uganda, were accused of targeting Huto civilians, looting and smuggling of coffee, diamonds, wood, colin and other resources. The relatives of Ugandan President Yurei Museveni, including his younger brother Salim Saleh and wife of Saleh, Jovia Akandwanahu, were named as operators of companies involved in trading illegal materials, especially during the second war. The Congolese politicians and soldiers were also involved.

“The exploitation of natural resources has become increasingly attractive, not only because these groups enabled the financing of their war efforts, but also because for a large number of political/military leaders, it was a source of personal enrichment. Thus natural resources gradually became a driving force behind the war,” one. delay Read.

It also accused “foreign buyers of being ready to deal with these goods”, including merchants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and multiple countries. In 2005, AnVil, an Australian Canadian mining company, was accused of providing logistics for the Congolese army, which violently helped it suppress a small intifada in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Kampala is guilty of “Violation of International Law” in 2022 and ordered Uganda to pay $ 325m To the Democratic Republic of the Congo for losses and damages during wars. Kampala started installments and is expected to complete it by 2027. Although the Democratic Republic of the Congo filed a lawsuit against Rwanda, the International Court of Justice could not judge this case because Rwanda did not recognize its jurisdiction.

In the latest legal battle in 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo filed a lawsuit against Rwanda in the East African Court of Justice in Arosha, Tanzania, on the pretext that by supporting M23 rebels, Kinshasa’s regional safety against international law. This issue is still ongoing. Rwanda has repeatedly denied M23 support.

“DRC needs a break”

The countries that participated in the Congo wars are again in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once again, the Congolese politician is on Kinshasa, this time Cornell NangaAFC. Nanga, an election commissioner for one time, fell with Congolese President Felix Chesikdi, then ally with M23 in December 2023. He is now leading the AFC-M23 alliance.

However, the analyst residing in the Accra Cambalao Musovali of the Congo Research Center on the island said that the overlap from the closest DRC neighbors has never stopped.

“When we say that Uganda and Rwanda are present in the Congo again, it is the perspective they left and return,” Musafouli, the Congolese, told Al -Jazeera. In fact, the two governments have constantly maintained a comment on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Throughout the continent, it is somewhat clear where most parties stand in this repetition of the conflict: Rwanda’s support for M23 is documented by the United Nations, who says about 3000 Rwandan soldiers are currently supporting the rebels. Burundi, during the era of President Ivarist Nadishmiye, who had lukewarm relations with Kagame – has deployed at least 10,000 soldiers to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The South African forces have been leading the Southern Development Society Mission (SADC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has been fighting M23 alongside Malawi and Tanzani soldiers since January. Angola and Kenya They lead two separate peace negotiations, while Chad considers a request from Kinshasa to deploy the forces.

Uganda, though, appears to be the wild card. The country was last year involved By providing support for M23 by allowing its territory to use the attacks, the areas currently occupied by the Ugandan army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are very close to the areas where M23 believes that analysts believe may be some collusion. But Kampala denies any contacts with the M23.

“Uganda is the great elephant in the room,” said analyst Nantolia. He added that Kampala plays a role in a mysterious budget, as it works to secure part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while committing to not standing on the M23 road on the other hand.

DRC resources also remain a pivotal point in this conflict. To date, the M23 has acquired vast areas of the north and south Kivu, which is home to the huge gold and cobalt deposits. There is speculation that gold in the Republic of Congo gold funds the armed group, which surprised analysts with high -quality weapons and communications systems. The United Nations estimates that M23 earns about $ 800,000 per month of illegal gold sales.

Analysts say ending the long crisis of widespread efforts by African countries to make both sides to negotiate, but also to pressure the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo itself to reform its internal affairs: TSHISECEDI suffers from a legitimate crisis as the Congolese elections rejected the popular that brought it to second times. The weaknesses and corruption in the country in the country may have helped the Congolese defenses stumbling with the progress of the M23. And the feelings of marginalization are still heavy in the Congolese societies, which increases tensions.

Kinshasa’s recent calls for a national dialogue, in addition to Peace talks led by regional partiesThey are important steps, Moussavoli said. He added that the recent visit by the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, who pledged to try all parties accused of violations of rights in the conflict, including random killings and sexual assault on civilians.

“Usually, what about the Rwandan government? What about the Ugandan government? But no one talks about [Congolese] Musafouli said.

“We say that the Congo people should be alive in order to be able to rebuild the country for the benefit of the African continent. That is why the Democratic Republic of the Congo needs a break. Not only for themselves, but for the entire African continent.”