How African leaders can handle long-running crisis in DR Congo

The Congo crisis and the rise of the M23 rebel group are deeply intertwined with the broader geopolitics of the African Great Lakes region, which has seen repeated struggles for political control, ethnic conflict and exploitation of resources.

The DRC, with its vast territory and abundant mineral wealth, has become a key battleground for local and foreign powers, whose interests in the country’s resources have exacerbated internal strife. The wealth of the DRC, particularly in minerals like coltan, cobalt, timber, gold and diamonds, has been a source of economic opportunity and international exploitation, fueling much of the violence that continues today.

The roots of the Congo crisis lie in the legacy of Belgian colonial rule, which left the newly independent nation with weak institutions, an underdeveloped infrastructure, and deep ethnic divisions. These divisions were quickly exacerbated by political struggles for control of the country’s leadership and resources.

Belgium’s partition of the Congo was a strategic move that reshaped the region’s demographics and political landscape. Belgium separated Rwanda and Burundi from the Congo as part of its colonial administration, incorporating them into its League of Nations mandate territories. This decision disrupted long-standing ethnic and economic ties, exacerbating tensions that persist to this day. The arbitrary borders imposed by European colonial powers contributed to disputes over identity, land, and resources, setting the stage for future conflicts. 

The Hutu and Tutsi conflict dates back centuries but was significantly shaped by colonial rule. Before European intervention, the Tutsi were traditionally cattle herders and were often seen as the ruling elite, while the Hutu were primarily agriculturalists. When Germany and later Belgium colonised Rwanda and Burundi, they institutionalised these divisions, favouring the Tutsi minority in administrative and political roles while systematically marginalising the Hutu majority.

The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Hutu rebel group operating primarily in eastern DRC. Formed in 2000 by remnants of the former Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and the Interahamwe militia, the FDLR consists of those who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide. It has been accused of committing human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians and engaging in illegal mining activities. Rwanda justifies its military incursions into the DRC by claiming to target the FDLR, stating that the group poses a threat to national security. However, critics argue that Rwanda’s involvement is more about controlling mineral-rich territories and exerting political influence than fighting FDLR threat.

The M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, is a rebel group formed by former members of the Congolese army who mutinied in 2012, citing the government’s failure to implement the 2009 peace agreement. The group primarily operates in the North Kivu province, an area rich in minerals and a hotspot for armed conflict. The M23 group’s core was made up of former members of the CNDP (the Tutsi-dominated National Congress for the Defence of the People) and was initially supported by Rwanda, which feared the rise of anti-Tutsi sentiments within the DRC. Despite numerous claims of Rwandan involvement, the government of Rwanda has consistently denied supporting M23, although evidence linking them to the group remains a source of contention in international diplomacy. M23 has been widely accused of receiving support from Rwanda, particularly from President Paul Kagame. Rwanda’s involvement is often linked to its geopolitical and economic interests in the eastern DRC, particularly its access to valuable minerals such as coltan, gold, and tin. Kagame has denied these allegations. 

The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, signed in 1999 by Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC, aimed to bring peace but was largely ineffective.

More recently, the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes sought to address the conflict between M23 and the Congolese government, yet fighting persists. The 2013 Addis Ababa Peace Framework, signed by 11 African nations and international actors, sought to stabilise the region, but violations by multiple parties have hindered progress.