Description: Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has directly accused Rwanda of territorial incursion as the Rwandan national army has been identified to have entered the country on 16 Feb. Rwanda has been previously accused of harboring M23 rebels and facilitating military equipment, logistics and intelligence support in the DR Congo. On 15 Feb, M23 rebels announced they have conducted a military offensive on the city of Bukavu after which they seized control of a larger part of the North and South Kivu province since occupying the city of Goma previously. The conflict has so far internally displaced over 6.4 million people, while in the past month over 3,000 people have been reported to have been killed in M23 advances in eastern Congo.
Impact: Rwanda’s national army incursion into the DRC reaffirmed the country’s support for the M23 rebel movement which brought the conflict to a different level of escalating military tensions. The lack of international involvement has prompted Congo’s neighboring countries to adopt a unilateral approach towards the armed conflict which could potentially instigate a broadened specter of warfare in the region inciting further humanitarian and security crisis. The war has been waged for the establishment of a monopoly over DR Congo’s mineral – rich eastern parts crucial for high – end global industries. Despite pledges from the UN, the conflict becomes a humanitarian and security risk of enlarged proportions and threatens DR Congo’s territorial integrity.