Description: The M23 rebel group was announced to have overtaken the town of Minova, tactically important town in the eastern parts of DR Congo and rich with natural resources. DR Congo’s army has also acknowledged that M23 has made significant breakthroughs in other natural resources rich towns such as Lumbishi, Numbi, Shanje, Bweremana and the North Kivu province. The conflict rages for over 10 years as Rwanda have been criticized to have been M23’s main backer in the region. The UN has reported that more than 237,000 citizens have been displaced since the conflict inflamed again in 2022.
Impact: State – backed M23 rebels represent one of the main threats in the Central African region as the fight for natural resources prevalence continues on. The Congolese army has obvious and serious difficulties in neutralizing the M23 rebels and the prolonged armed conflict is expected to continue as Rwanda continues to support the rebels in order to gain access to key geographical points which have been reported to be rich with minerals. The conflict would inflict continued humanitarian crisis as numbered regions are cut off from the main powerlines and elementary living conditions are worsening by the day.