DR Congo conflict advances as U.N. warns of regional escalation

Sub: IR

Sec: Places

Context:

The M23 armed group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, is threatening the town of Kavumu in South Kivu province of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), having seized Goma last week. Kavumu, located near Bukavu, is a key strategic point for DRC forces.
The DRC government has issued an international arrest warrant for M23 leader Corneille Nangaa, further escalating tensions.

M23’s Political Ambitions:

The M23 has established its own political structures in areas under its control, such as appointing its mayor in Goma.
The group’s leader Corneille Nangaa, has made public declarations calling for the liberation of all of Congo, fuelling fears of an expanded conflict that could destabilize the region.
Thousands of supporters gathered for a public rally of the River Congo Alliance, a political-military coalition that includes the M23, chanting slogans advocating for the capture of the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa.

River Congo Alliance:

The Congo River Alliance (French: Alliance Fleuve Congo) is a political and military coalition of rebel groups and political parties led by former Independent National Electoral Commission President Corneille Nangaa that seeks to overthrow the government of DRC.
The alliance was formed by Corneille Nangaa in 2023 and it includes the M23 group.

Regional Diplomatic Efforts:

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi are scheduled to attend a summit in Tanzania, with leaders from the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) also participating.
The summit aims to address the crisis and find a diplomatic resolution, as previous peace talks brokered by Angola and Kenya have failed to produce lasting solutions.
The situation in eastern DRC poses a serious risk of regional war, with several African nations, including South Africa, Burundi, and Malawi, already involved in supporting Congolese military

Southern African Development Community (SADC):

SADC is a regional intergovernmental organization aimed at fostering economic cooperation and integration, peace, and security in Southern Africa.
It was established in 1980, originally as the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), with the goal of reducing economic dependency on apartheid-era South Africa. In 1992, it was transformed into SADC to include broader objectives of regional integration and development.
Members: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

East African Community:

The East African Community is an intergovernmental organisation in East Africa.
The EAC’s membership consists of eight states: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The organization aims to enhance economic, political, social, and cultural cooperation among its member states to foster regional integration.
The EAC was established in 1967, and after a break in the 1970s, it was revived in 1999.