Cameron Hendrix
Introduction
The humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is only deepening as March 23 Movement (M23) and Rwandan forces continue their push deeper inside the nation. Should the recently proposed ceasefire fail, the likelihood of the conflict spilling over into a regional war in one of the most densely populated parts of the world increases dangerously. As each day peace is not achieved, the risk of a humanitarian disaster not seen since the Congo Wars escalates. To prevent this disaster, nations with the ability to help develop peace should provide greater focus on the region and support solutions led by third-party African nations.
Context
As the M23 group continues its crusade into the DRC, Rwanda’s true intentions are increasingly suspect. Ostensibly to rid the Eastern DRC of those responsible for the Rwandan Genocide, the truth, in part, seems to lie in Kinshasa’s vast mineral reserves in the region. Rwandan mineral exports have doubled since the most recent phase of the conflict and the country is exporting more than it mines, a mathematical impossibility. Rwanda has capitalized on limited DRC governmental control of its eastern borders, seizing large swathes of the $24 trillion worth of minerals in its territory.
No comments:
Post a Comment