From my spot beneath the shade of the Siringa tree in Chakasara, I’ve spent many quiet evenings pondering how the events that unfold in distant parts of the world inevitably ripple through our own lives. As I sit here, watching my crops grow and listening to the breeze rustle the leaves, I am reminded of the importance of staying informed. Thanks to Starlink, I can track the weather for my farm and read the latest updates on X (yes, we still call it Twitter in these parts). Today, I find myself reflecting on the ongoing M23 conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and I feel compelled to share with you a deeper understanding of what’s really happening there.


The Roots of the Conflict: A Lesson in History
The origins of the M23 conflict in the DRC are like the thorny bushes that grow near our village—the deeper you go, the more tangled and painful the branches become. To fully understand it, we must go back in time, beyond the headlines and international meetings, to a point where history and geography met in tragic convergence.


It all begins in 1994, not in the villages of Kwekwe or even the bustling streets of Harare, but in the rolling hills of Rwanda. In that year, the world witnessed one of the most horrific massacres in human history—the Rwandan Genocide. Over the span of just 100 days, an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered by extremist Hutu militias. Imagine that, 800,000 lives taken in such a short period, roughly the entire population of a small country. It was as if the earth had swallowed the souls of a whole generation.


In the aftermath, the survivors fled to neighboring countries, including the DRC, which at that time was known as Zaire. Among those who fled were the perpetrators of the genocide, the Hutu militias. This was not a simple migration; it was a dangerous and complicated movement of people who brought their old grudges, weapons, and hatred with them. And so began the long and troubled relationship between Rwanda and the DRC, one that would fuel conflict for decades.


The Emergence of M23: The Formation of a Rebel Group
The M23 conflict itself is the product of many years of strife. After the Rwandan Genocide, Rwanda intervened in the DRC in 1996 and 1998, ostensibly to dismantle the Hutu militias that had fled. These interventions were part of broader regional conflicts known as the First and Second Congo Wars. But, as with most wars, things did not stay simple. What started as a battle against militias turned into a battle for control over the mineral-rich lands of eastern DRC.


In 2012, a mutiny within the Congolese army gave birth to the M23 rebel group. A large portion of the soldiers who defected were Tutsi, former members of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). They felt betrayed by the DRC government, which had failed to uphold the terms of a 2009 peace agreement that promised them military integration and protection from attacks by anti-Tutsi forces. M23, named after the date of the peace agreement (March 23), rose from the ashes of these unmet promises.


It is here that we see the seeds of the conflict being sown—not just in political agreements or the pursuit of power, but in the bitter history of ethnic tensions. Much like how some people in our own rural communities carry the weight of old family disputes across generations, the tensions between the Tutsi and Hutu in the Great Lakes region have been passed down, creating a cycle of mistrust and violence.
The Key Issues at Stake: Resources, Ethnicity, and Power


At the heart of the M23 conflict, we see three primary forces colliding: ethnic identity, control of resources, and the struggle for political power. In the villages I know, it’s easy to see how these dynamics play out in simpler forms. Think about a farmer who owns a piece of land that produces bumper crops of maize year after year. Other farmers, eyeing the same fertile soil, might try to claim it for themselves, leading to disputes. The winner doesn’t just control the land; they control the livelihoods of those around them.


In the case of M23, the fertile land is not just agricultural—it’s rich in resources like coltan, gold, and cobalt. These minerals are used in everything from mobile phones to electric car batteries, making the region incredibly valuable to global markets. But for the people of the region, this wealth often means conflict, as various armed groups, including M23, battle for control over these precious resources.
Ethnicity, too, plays a significant role. M23 claims to fight for the rights of the Tutsi people, who they say are persecuted and discriminated against in eastern DRC. Yet, this conflict is far more complicated than a simple ethnic struggle. It is a struggle for survival, for governance, and for political representation. Just as in our villages, where people seek respect and the right to voice their concerns, the people of the eastern DRC want the same—a fair share in governance and recognition of their rights.


The Role of Rwanda: Friend or Foe?
One of the most contentious aspects of this conflict is Rwanda’s alleged involvement with M23. In a way, Rwanda’s role can be compared to a neighbor who intervenes in a dispute between two families in the village, claiming it’s for the greater good. According to numerous reports from the United Nations, human rights groups, and international media, Rwanda has been accused of supporting M23 with troops, training, and logistical support.


Rwanda’s justification is that it is acting in self-defense against the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), a militia made up of Hutu extremists who fled Rwanda after the genocide. Rwanda sees the FDLR as a direct threat to its national security, and so it has supported M23, a Tutsi-led group, as a proxy force to combat them. But, much like any meddling in family matters, Rwanda’s involvement has been met with suspicion, and the DRC government and other international actors have criticized Rwanda’s actions.


Rwanda, however, denies direct military involvement with M23, insisting its actions are defensive in nature. They argue that they are merely protecting their borders from the FDLR, not supporting a rebel group. This disagreement highlights the complexity of the conflict—what one country sees as a defensive action, another sees as an act of aggression.


The Human Cost: A Crisis That Knows No Borders
The impact of the M23 conflict is felt not just in the political arenas of Kigali or Kinshasa, but in the lives of ordinary people. The conflict has displaced millions, with over 5.5 million people in the DRC currently living as refugees. This crisis has left communities in turmoil, families torn apart, and villages, much like ours here in Chakasara, struggling to survive amidst the chaos.


In 2025, M23 rebels captured Goma, a major city in the region, sparking further alarm. This has drawn the attention of the international community, urging for more intervention to prevent the situation from worsening. Yet, as with many conflicts, solutions are not simple. The complexities of ethnicity, politics, and regional interests make a peaceful resolution difficult to achieve.


A Lesson for Us All
As I sit here beneath the Siringa tree, reflecting on this distant conflict, I am reminded that the struggles we face here—be they over land, resources, or power—are not unique to our small villages. They are mirrored in the far-reaching struggles of nations and peoples across the globe. Whether in Chakasara or Goma, the quest for peace, justice, and understanding remains the same.


In the end, this conflict, like all conflicts, is about the lives of people—people who long for peace, who dream of a better future for their children, and who hope for a time when the cycles of violence and distrust will finally come to an end.


As I continue to monitor my crops and watch the sunset over Chakasara, I can’t help but think that we, too, must learn from these global struggles. Only through understanding, cooperation, and respect for each other’s rights can we ensure a future free from the shadows of conflict.

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