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  • Rwanda, the West’s ‘Donor Darling,’ Seizes an Opportunity in Congo


    After Rwanda-backed rebels seized the Congolese city of Goma in 2012, powerful nations across the world registered their disapproval, announcing sanctions against Rwanda and other measures that led to the rebels’ defeat a year later.

    When those same rebels battled to capture Goma on Sunday, several nations once again voiced their criticism, but they have yet to apply the level of pressure on Rwanda that eventually led the rebels to stand down more than a decade ago.

    As hundreds of thousands of civilians fled escalating violence in recent days, seeking sanctuary in Goma, the rebel group M23 was right behind them. M23, which the United Nations and others say is funded and armed by Rwanda, declared that it had captured Goma early on Monday.

    Now, with the fate of the city in the balance, analysts say a conflict that could be tamed with strong international pressure against Rwanda is, instead, spiraling out of control. Rwanda has as many as 4,000 troops in eastern Congo supporting the M23 advance, United Nations experts say. The government of Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s president, appears intent on rewriting Congo’s map by seizing land, and so far, beyond issuing reproofs, Western countries have barely mustered a response.

    Mr. Kagame has denied that Rwanda is arming M23, or that his troops are in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He says M23 is simply defending the rights of Congo’s minority Tutsis — Mr. Kagame’s own ethnic group, which was the principal target of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide. Most analysts say that this is a pretext to occupy Congolese territory and plunder its vast mineral wealth.

    In a call with President Felix Tshisekedi of Congo on Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio “condemned the assault on Goma by the Rwanda-backed M23 and affirmed the United States’ respect for the sovereignty of the DRC,” according to the State Department.

    The United Kingdom and France had earlier condemned Rwanda’s presence in eastern Congo. Antonio Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, on Monday called for the first time for Rwandan troops to withdraw from eastern Congo.

    But Mr. Kagame’s small central African nation has spent the last decade bolstering its reputation among Western powers, making it too useful to sanction quickly, some analysts say. The European Union signed a strategic minerals deal with Rwanda last year, prompting accusations from rights groups that it is fueling the conflict.

    Rwanda, with a population of just 14 million people, currently contributes the second-highest number of peacekeepers to the United Nations. Starting in 2021, its troops beat back a jihadist insurgency in an area of Mozambique where a French oil giant has a $20 billion gas project. Rwanda has also shown a willingness to take asylum seekers from Europe, offering to help tackle an issue that has fueled that continent’s far-right movements.

    And for years, Rwanda has been seen by Western donors as the textbook example of how to get aid right, using the aid to leverage economic growth and development while styling itself the Singapore of Africa.

    “Powerful Western countries have for long been reticent about punishing Rwanda, which cultivated a reputation as a donor darling,” said Dino Mahtani, a former adviser to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo. “While some are now finally demanding Kagame pull back support to M23, they are unlikely to take action against what they see as the military solution against jihadis in Mozambique.”

    Congo, on the other hand, has regularly been written off as a hopeless case, a helpless giant in Africa wracked by a series of wars, rife with corruption and suffering.

    And the suffering is overwhelming.

    Holding a tiny baby and trying to keep her other children close, Sifa Kigugo arrived in Goma on Sunday, just before the rebel takeover, with nowhere to go. She had given birth just five days before, but when fighting broke out around her village, she had to run.

    Millions of Congolese like Ms. Kigugo have been forced to abandon their homes, with several hundred thousand displaced last week alone. Bombs have fallen on the camps meant to house them. Sexual violence, long used as a weapon of war in Congo, has lately increased sharply, reaching record levels last year, after M23 began its most recent push.

    “When will the international community stop turning a blind eye to the Congolese tragedy, and accepting or tolerating systematic violations of international law and human rights?” asked Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who has treated thousands of rape victims in Congo and won the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.

    More than 21 million people in Congo — about one-fifth of the population — need aid. But humanitarian workers warn that the actions of the new Trump administration could plunge the country deeper into crisis. After taking office, President Trump issued an executive order directing a 90-day freeze on almost all foreign aid, pending a review. Last year 68.8 percent of all humanitarian aid in Congo came from the United States.

    It is also Rwanda’s biggest bilateral donor, giving over $188 million to the country in 2023. Now that aid has been paused, the U.S. may be in a weaker position to influence Rwanda, according to some analysts.

    In 2012, in the wake of M23’s first occupation of Goma, President Barack Obama called Mr. Kagame and urged him to stop supporting the rebels.

    More recently, Western nations have taken some action against M23: In 2023, the United States and the European Union imposed sanctions on a few Rwandan and Congolese military commanders involved in the conflict, and the United States suspended military aid to Rwanda last year.

    On Tuesday, Germany’s development ministry suspended aid talks with Rwandan officials. But many Congolese, including protesters in multiple cities this week, say the E.U. and the United States need to do more to stop Mr. Kagame.

    Rwanda’s exploitation of Congo’s rare minerals has been detailed in multiple reports from the United Nations. Last year, M23 seized an area around the Congolese town of Rubaya that is rich in coltan, an ore used in cellphones and computers.

    U.N. experts said in December that at least 150 tons of coltan were illegally exported to Rwanda and mixed with Rwandan production. Last month Congo filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of Apple, accusing it of using conflict minerals sourced in Congo.

    Analysts say M23, under Rwanda’s guidance, is looking to occupy Congo for the long term, behaving in ways that suggest it plans to establish an administrative state, collecting taxes and imposing fines on residents. “This seems to be a long game of territorial acquisition,” said Mr. Mahtani, the former adviser to the U.N. peacekeeping mission.

    In Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, on Tuesday, anti-Rwanda protesters attacked several foreign embassies and a United Nations building in an eruption of anger at Congo’s allies for failing to stop M23’s advance. Protests also broke out in Bukavu, a larger city to Goma’s south to which some Congolese officers are thought to have fled. Many of Bukavu’s residents fear they are the rebels’ next target.

    Some observers see peace talks organized by nations in the region, including Angola, as the best hope for ending the violence. Secretary Rubio said on Monday that negotiations should restart as soon as possible. President William Ruto of Kenya said Tuesday that Mr. Kagame and Mr. Tshisekedi had agreed to attend an emergency summit on Wednesday to address the situation.

    While those discussions lumber on, hundreds of thousands of terrified people who took cover in Goma have nowhere to go.

    Even those who have beds to sleep on have not slept, said Maina King’ori, the regional humanitarian director of the agency CARE International, who described hearing constant gunfire in the city. “They’ve just been awake, waiting with bated breath, wondering what’s next,” he said.

    Elian Peltier contributed reporting.



    Rwanda, often referred to as the West’s ‘Donor Darling,’ has recently seized an opportunity in Congo that has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy. The small East African nation, known for its economic progress and stability, has long been praised by Western donors for its development efforts and political reforms.

    However, Rwanda’s recent involvement in Congo has brought its reputation into question. The government of President Paul Kagame has been accused of supporting rebel groups in eastern Congo, fueling conflict and instability in the region. Despite denials from Rwanda, evidence has emerged linking the country to rebel activities in Congo.

    The situation has put the West in a difficult position, as Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid and support from Western donors. Critics argue that Rwanda’s actions in Congo go against the principles of peace and stability that donor countries claim to promote.

    As Rwanda’s influence in Congo grows, it raises important questions about the role of donor countries in supporting governments with questionable human rights records. Will the West continue to support Rwanda, or will it hold the country accountable for its actions in Congo? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Rwanda’s status as the ‘Donor Darling’ is being put to the test.

    Tags:

    Rwanda, West’s Donor Darling, Congo, Opportunity, Africa, Aid, Development, Foreign Aid, Conflict Resolution, Politics, East Africa, International Relations, Humanitarian Aid, Diplomacy, African Nations, Rwanda-Congo Relations, Regional Cooperation, Economic Development.

    #Rwanda #Wests #Donor #Darling #Seizes #Opportunity #Congo

  • Rwanda’s evolving stature ensures muted global pressure as M23 advances in eastern Congo


    When Rwanda-backed rebels seized control of eastern Congo’s strategic city of Goma this week, it prompted a flurry of declarations condemning Rwanda from the U.N. and western nations, including the United States, France and the U.K.

    Yet, the international community has stopped short of putting financial pressure on Kigali to withdraw its support for the rebels as happened when they took Goma in 2012.

    The contrast has to do with the country’s evolving stature both in Africa and the West, where officials have long admired fourth-term President Paul Kagame for his role in uplifting Rwanda in the aftermath of genocide, analysts and diplomats said. They point to Rwanda’s shrewd branding, efforts to make itself more indispensable militarily and economically and divided attention spans of countries preoccupied with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

    “So far there has been significantly less international pressure than there was in 2012 for various reasons, including the new administration in the White House, other ongoing international crises and Rwanda’s role in continental peacekeeping and security operations,” said Ben Shepherd, a fellow Chatham House’s Africa Program.

    Aid was once a key source of leverage

    Kagame’s efforts to transform his small east African nation into a political and economic juggernaut, they say, has made the international community more reluctant to pressure Rwanda.

    That’s been true when Kagame has abolished term limits and waged a campaign of repression against his opponents at home. It’s been true as he’s backed rebels fighting Congolese forces across the country’s border. And it’s remained true despite the fact that Rwanda’s economy is still heavily reliant on foreign aid, including from the United States, the World Bank and the European Union.

    The United States disbursed $180 million in foreign aid to Rwanda in 2023. The World Bank’s International Development Association provided nearly $221 million the same year. And in the years ahead, the European Union has pledged to invest over $900 million in Rwanda under the Global Gateway strategy, its response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

    In 2012, that aid was a key source of leverage as the western powers pressured Rwanda to end its role in the fighting. Donor countries withheld aid and the World Bank threatened to. Only a few nations, including the U.K. and Germany, have implied Rwanda’s involvement could jeopardize the flow of aid.

    But today, the international community has fewer means to influence Rwanda as M23 advances southward from Goma. The United States suspended military aid to Rwanda in 2012 in the months before it seized Goma but can’t make the same threats after suspending it again last year. And since taking office, President Donald Trump has since frozen the vast majority of foreign aid, stripping the United States of the means to use it to leverage any country in particular.

    Rwandan troops observed pouring into Congo

    The Rwanda-backed M23 group is one of about 100 armed factions vying for a foothold in eastern Congo in one of Africa’s longest conflicts, displacing 4.5 million people and creating what the U.N. called “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”

    A July 2024 report from a U.N. group of experts estimated at least 4,000 Rwandan troops were active across the Congolese border. More have been observed pouring into Congo this week.

    Kagame has claimed that M23 rebels in eastern Congo merely want to defend Tutsis from the same Hutu extremists who carried out the genocide that killed some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus without intervention from the international community.

    That failure and the resulting guilt informed a generation of politicians’ thinking about Rwanda.

    “Rwanda’s justifications and references to the genocide continue to play to the West’s perception of it,” said South Africa-based risk analyst Daniel Van Dalen. “There’s always been apprehension to take any decisive action against Rwanda politically or economically.”

    Kagame seen as ‘a beacon of stability and economic growth’

    But today, there are other factors at play.

    Set on transforming the country into the “Singapore of Africa,” Kagame has modernized Rwanda’s infrastructure, raised life expectancy rates and lured companies like Volkswagen and leagues like the NBA to open up shop in-country. Donors and foreign correspondents often profess wonder at Kigali’s clean streets, upscale restaurants and women-majority parliament.

    The transformation has won Rwanda admiration from throughout the world, including in Africa, where leaders see Rwanda’s trajectory as a model to draw lessons from.

    “The history of genocide still plays a role, but Kagame has very cleverly set up relationships with western capitals and established himself as a beacon of stability and economic growth in the region,” said a European diplomat, who did not want to be named because he was not allowed to speak on the matter publicly. “Some capitals still don’t want to see the truth.”

    Rwanda contributes more personnel to U.N. peacekeeping operations than all but two countries. It is a key supplier of troops deployed to Central African Republic, where the United States worries about growing Russian influence. The country has also agreed deals to deploy its army to fight extremists in northern Mozambique, where France’s Total Energies is developing an offshore gas project.

    “They have leveraged two things very well, which is their international diplomacy and their military prowess,” said Jason Stearns, a political scientist and Congo expert at Canada’s Simon Fraser University. “They’ve just been very good at making themselves useful.”

    Key exporter of critical minerals

    A decade ago, Rwanda was primarily exporting agricultural products like coffee and tea. But it has since emerged as a key partner for western nations competing with China for access to natural resources in east Africa.

    In addition to gold and tin, Rwanda is a top exporter of tantalum, a mineral used to manufacture semiconductors. While it does not publish data on the volumes of minerals it mines, last year the U.S. State Department said Rwanda exported more minerals than it mined, citing a U.N. report. And just last month, Congo filed lawsuits against Apple’s subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing Rwanda of using minerals sourced in eastern Congo.

    Yet still, the European Union has signed an agreement with Kigali, opening the door to importing critical minerals from Rwanda. The deal sparked outrage from activists who criticized the lack of safeguards regarding sourcing of the minerals, and accused Brussels of fueling the conflict in eastern Congo.

    The EU pushed back, saying that the deal was in early stages and that it was “working out the practicalities” on tracing and reporting minerals from Rwanda.

    But even if the West stepped up its response, it has less leverage than in 2012, analysts said. Kagame invested in relationships with non-Western partners, such as China and the United Arab Emirates, which is now the country’s top trade partner. Rwanda also deepened its ties with the African nations that took much more decisive action to defuse the crisis in 2012.

    “We are waiting to see how South Africans and Angolans react,” Shepherd said. “There was diplomatic pressure in 2012, but it only changed things because it came alongside African forces deployed in the U.N. intervention brigade.”

    __

    Metz reported from Rabat, Morocco and Pronczuk from Dakar, Senegal.





    Rwanda’s evolving stature ensures muted global pressure as M23 advances in eastern Congo

    As the rebel group M23 continues to advance in eastern Congo, there has been a noticeable lack of global pressure on Rwanda to intervene or put a stop to the violence. This is in stark contrast to previous conflicts in the region, where Rwanda was often held accountable for supporting rebel groups.

    One of the key reasons for this muted global pressure is Rwanda’s evolving stature on the international stage. In recent years, Rwanda has made significant strides in terms of economic development, political stability, and regional influence. President Paul Kagame has been praised for his leadership and for transforming Rwanda into a model African nation.

    Additionally, Rwanda’s strategic partnerships with countries like the United States and China have helped bolster its position in the global arena. These alliances have given Rwanda more leverage and influence, making it less susceptible to outside pressure.

    While there are still concerns about Rwanda’s involvement in the conflict in eastern Congo, the lack of significant global pressure indicates a shift in how Rwanda is perceived on the world stage. As Rwanda continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how its actions and relationships shape future conflicts in the region.

    Tags:

    1. Rwanda
    2. M23
    3. Eastern Congo
    4. Global pressure
    5. Evolving stature
    6. Conflict in Africa
    7. African politics
    8. East African region
    9. Political developments
    10. International relations

    #Rwandas #evolving #stature #ensures #muted #global #pressure #M23 #advances #eastern #Congo

  • M23 rebels expand their control of Goma in eastern Congo


    GOMA, Congo — Rwanda-backed rebels captured large parts of Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo, including its airport, the United Nations said, as Rwanda’s president on Wednesday joined calls for a ceasefire in the decadeslong conflict amid mounting international pressure.

    Much of Goma was calm after a day during which thousands of fleeing people hunkered down by roadsides as missiles flew overhead, and injured people streamed to overwhelmed hospitals.

    While government forces still control pockets of Goma, residents who spoke to The Associated Press by phone on Tuesday said that the M23 rebel group was in control of much of the city.

    The M23 rebels, who said that they captured the city on Monday after a weekslong advance, are one of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo. The conflict escalated with the rebels’ advance into Goma, which left bodies on the streets and drove hundreds of thousands of already displaced people to flee once again.

    After clashing with government forces, the rebels took control of the airport, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing on Tuesday, warning of “risks of a breakdown of law and order in the city given the proliferation of weapons.”

    Rwandan President Paul Kagame said on X that he spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on “the need to ensure a ceasefire and address the root causes of the conflict once and for all.”

    His government denies supporting M23, despite reports from U.N. experts who estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo. Rwanda has accused Congo of enlisting Hutu rebels and former militiamen whom it blames for the 1994 genocide.

    The East African Community, whose members include both Rwanda and Congo, are scheduled to discuss the conflict at a meeting on Wednesday. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi won’t be able to participate in the virtual summit, a spokesperson said, without providing further details.

    Pope Francis called for the cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians.

    “We hope that all forms of violence against people and their property will cease as soon as possible (and) I invite local authorities and the international community to make every effort to resolve the conflict by peaceful means,” Francis said at his weekly general audience.

    M23, made up primarily of ethnic Tutsis, has told the AP that it plans to set up an administration in the city so people can continue living normal lives and displaced people can return home.

    Analysts have warned that securing a rebel withdrawal could be more difficult than in 2012, when M23 first captured Goma but withdrew after days. Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group, said that the group has become more emboldened by Rwanda, which feels Congo is ignoring its interests in the region and which has accused Congo of failing to meet demands of previous peace agreements.



    The M23 rebels have made significant gains in their control of Goma, a city in eastern Congo. This rebel group, which is made up of former Congolese army soldiers, has been fighting against the government for years in an attempt to gain more power and resources.

    In recent days, the M23 rebels have taken control of key strategic points in Goma, including government buildings and military installations. This expansion of their control has raised concerns among residents and human rights organizations about the safety and stability of the region.

    The international community has condemned the actions of the M23 rebels and called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further violence and suffering among civilians. However, it remains to be seen whether the rebel group will heed these calls and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

    The situation in Goma is rapidly evolving, and it is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people living in the region. The international community must continue to monitor the situation closely and take decisive action to ensure that peace and stability are restored in eastern Congo.

    Tags:

    1. M23 rebels
    2. Goma
    3. Eastern Congo
    4. Rebel control
    5. Conflict in Congo
    6. Rebel group expansion
    7. African rebels
    8. Political unrest
    9. Military control
    10. Crisis in eastern Africa

    #M23 #rebels #expand #control #Goma #eastern #Congo

  • M23 rebels kill 13 foreign peacekeepers in DR Congo


    Thirteen soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in clashes with rebels from the M23 group.

    The South African military said nine of its soldiers died helping to push back a rebel advance on the city of Goma, in eastern DR Congo, while three Malawians and a Uruguayan were also killed.

    French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken to the leaders of both DR Congo and Rwanda amid global calls for the violence to end.

    The United Nations is pulling all non-essential staff out of Goma – a city of more than one million people – as the fighting intensifies.

    A UN Security Council meeting about the deadly clashes, originally set for Monday, has been moved to Sunday due to the escalating conflict.

    The M23 group has called on Congolese troops in Goma to surrender in order to avoid bloodshed. While DR Congo has severed diplomatic ties with neighbouring Rwanda, accusing the country of being behind the rebellion.

    The move comes after M23 fighters killed a Congolese military governor who was visiting the frontline on Thursday. Earlier in January, they captured the key eastern Congolese towns of Minova and Masisi.

    Macron called for an end to the fighting in separate calls with the leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda on Saturday, his office said.

    The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged the M23 to halt its advance and condemned Rwanda’s support for the group, the AFP news agency reports.

    Further condemnation came from Angolan President Joao Lourenco, the African Union’s mediator between Rwanda and DR Congo, who denounced “irresponsible actions by the M23 and its supporters” and called for the “immediate cessation” of fighting to preserve civilian lives, according to the AFP news agency.

    Fighting between the M23 and DR Congo’s army has intensified since the start of the year, with the rebels seizing control of more territory than ever.

    The conflict has already led more than 400,000 people to flee their homes this year, according to the UN.

    Local leaders last week said more than 200 civilians had been killed in areas captured by the M23, with hospitals in Goma treating hundreds of patients.

    Martin Gordon, an Anglican bishop in Goma, told the BBC fighting in the country had gone on “way too long” and people “will do anything for peace”.

    In the past few days, several countries have urged their citizens to leave Goma, including the UK, France, Germany and the US.

    Human Rights Watch has warned of escalating risks to civilians as the Congolese army battles the M23 rebels. The humanitarian group has accused both sides of committing grave abuses against civilians.

    The UN has warned that the ongoing conflict is worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region.

    The M23 has taken control of vast swathes of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since 2021. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced as a consequence.

    DR Congo and the UN say the M23 is backed by Rwanda. The Rwandan authorities have neither confirmed nor denied this.

    Rwanda has previously said the authorities in DR Congo were working with some of those responsible for the 1994 Rwandan genocide against ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

    The M23 formed as an offshoot of another rebel group in 2012, ostensibly to protect the Tutsi population in the east of DR Congo, which had long complained of persecution and discrimination.

    However, Rwanda’s critics accuse it of using the M23 to loot eastern DR Congo’s minerals such as gold, cobalt and tantalum.



    The recent violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo took a tragic turn as M23 rebels reportedly killed 13 foreign peacekeepers in an attack. The peacekeepers, who were part of a UN mission to stabilize the region, were ambushed by the rebels while on patrol.

    This senseless act of violence highlights the ongoing challenges faced by peacekeepers in the region, as they work tirelessly to protect civilians and promote peace. The international community must condemn these attacks and work together to bring the perpetrators to justice.

    Our thoughts are with the families and colleagues of the fallen peacekeepers, who made the ultimate sacrifice in their pursuit of peace. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy and call for an end to the violence in DR Congo. #JusticeForPeacekeepers #EndViolenceInDRCongo

    Tags:

    1. M23 rebels
    2. DR Congo
    3. Foreign peacekeepers
    4. Conflict in Africa
    5. Violence in the Congo
    6. Rebel attacks
    7. International peacekeeping
    8. United Nations mission
    9. Military intervention in Africa
    10. Security threats in the Democratic Republic of Congo

    #M23 #rebels #kill #foreign #peacekeepers #Congo