Rwanda

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When Goma Starts Smokin’: Rwandan Rebels and the East African Tango!

Paul Kagame -- rwanda president Cyril Ramaphosa - Democratic Republic of the Congo - East African Community - Goma - International Relations - M23 Rebels - Rwanda - Paul Kagame - rwanda president

Tensions are heating up in Goma as Rwanda-backed rebels strut their stuff! Find out what’s going down in the latest East African drama!

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in the spotlight once again with the recent surge of troops from the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who have taken control of Goma, a city known for its bustling activities and Nobel Prize-winning volcano. As the East African Community has rushed to urge an immediate ceasefire, the reality on the ground feels like a plot twist from an action-packed thriller, with Congolese soldiers crossing into Rwanda to surrender, adding a splash of drama to the already tumultuous situation.

Despite calls for peace, the conflict shows little signs of abating. Initial reports detail how the M23 fighters seized significant territories north of Goma, putting the city’s residents in precarious positions. In a plot thickeners twist, President Felix Tshisekedi opted to skip a crucial virtual crisis summit, leaving room for speculation about the DRC’s strategy moving forward. Meanwhile, Rwandan officials have accused external forces of meddling, specifically pointing fingers at the US, EU, and UN, as tensions continue to escalate.

Amidst the chaos, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has bravely flagged concern regarding the loss of South African soldiers in the conflict and issued stern warnings to Rwandan forces. "Firing at SA troops is a declaration of war," he proclaimed, emphasizing the grave implications this could have on regional stability. His words echo the sentiments of many who believe in the necessity of collective security measures in these turbulent times.

As the citizens of Goma attempt to rebuild their lives, thoughts turn to justice and peacekeeping. However, what does history tell us about Goma? Fun fact: Goma is situated on the border of the DRC and Rwanda, and its breathtaking Lake Kivu is home to some of the world's largest concentrations of methane gas! That’s right, a serene lake disguising a volatile undercurrent. As conflict unfolds, we must remain hopeful for diplomacy and dialogue to pave the way toward a brighter future for Goma and its people, something the region desperately needs.

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Image courtesy of "Channel Africa"

'DRC will seek to recover lost territory as Rwanda-backed rebels ... (Channel Africa)

As an East African bloc urged an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who seized the city of Goma ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

DR Congo fighting: The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing ... (BBC News)

Tellingly some Congolese army soldiers in Goma who surrendered on Monday, did so by crossing over the border into Rwanda. Since the conflict begun, President ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Rwanda-backed M23 strengthens its control over DRC's Goma (Aljazeera.com)

Kenya has announced a virtual crisis summit, but Congolese state media says President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend.

Amid DRC violence, Rwanda falsely accuses US, EU, UN of ... (Polygraph.info)

The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels triggered the ongoing hostilities by launching an offensive north of Goma, on Oct. 26, 2023, in violation of the Luanda ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Congo's M23 rebels consolidate control over a devastated Goma (Reuters)

The United States told Rwanda it was "deeply troubled" by the fall of Goma in eastern Congo to Rwandan-backed M23 rebels, who appeared on Wednesday to have ...

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Rwanda-backed group controls most of DRC city as mediator urges ... (eNCA)

Rwanda-backed fighters were in control of almost all of the DR Congo city of Goma Wednesday where residents were re-emerging after days of deadly fighting ...

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

Ramaphosa blames M23 and Rwanda soldiers for surge in DRC ... (Business Day)

President Cyril Ramaphosa has blamed the escalation of fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which led to the deaths of 13 SA soldiers, ...

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Image courtesy of "Foreign Policy"

Congo's Tshisekedi Skips Goma Crisis Meeting With Rwanda's ... (Foreign Policy)

Congolese President Skips Crisis Meeting With Rwanda · The emergency regional leaders' summit aimed to address ongoing fighting between Rwandan-backed rebels and ...

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Image courtesy of "TimesLIVE"

Ramaphosa tells Rwanda 'firing at SA troops is a declaration of war' (TimesLIVE)

As South African soldiers lay lifeless in the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of the Congo, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a stern warning to Rwanda ...

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Image courtesy of "defenceWeb"

Lamola urges Rwandan forces to withdraw from DRC - defenceWeb (defenceWeb)

“The unauthorised presence of the Rwanda Defence Forces in eastern DRC violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC,” the Minister said at the ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Rwanda's Kagame defiant on criticism of east Congo offensive ... (Reuters)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame blasted criticism of his country's role in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where rebels his government backs have seized ...

Lamola urges Rwandan forces to withdraw from DRC (South African Government News Agency)

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has urged Rwanda to stop its support for the M23 group and to withdraw its forces from the ...

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

Rwanda's Kagame slams criticism of east Congo offensive as rebels ... (Voice of America)

President Paul Kagame says Rwanda was ready for 'confrontation' as he rejected criticism over his backing for M23 rebels who were pushing south in eastern ...

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

Congo's leader calls for massive military mobilization as Rwanda ... (The Associated Press)

Rwanda's leader also threatened to “deal” with any confrontation from South Africa regarding the conflict. In his first public remarks since the M23 rebels ...

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Image courtesy of "News24"

Lamola warns DRC-Rwanda tension could ignite regional war (News24)

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Cabinet lekgotla in Pretoria, Ronald Lamola expressed concern over the worsening conflict in the eastern DRC, ...

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

How DRC conflict greases Rwanda's economy (Business Day)

UN report says Rwanda benefits economically from the illicit trade of minerals flowing from M23 rebels.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

South Africa warns Rwanda of 'declaration of war' after DR Congo ... (Financial Times)

Regional tensions spiral as peacekeepers killed in fighting following Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group offensive.

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

DR Congo leader vows 'vigorous' response as Rwanda-backed ... (eNCA)

DR Congo's president has vowed a "vigorous" military response against Rwandan-backed fighters who have advanced further in the mineral-rich east of the ...

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

DR Congo's Tshisekedi says troops mounting 'vigorous' response to ... (FRANCE 24)

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said Wednesday that the international community's failure to respond to the worsening security ...

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Image courtesy of "News24"

Rwanda-backed M23 pledges to 'march all the way to Kinshasa' (News24)

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group vowed Thursday to "continue the march of liberation" to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa, as its fighters made further ...

UK warns Rwanda of threat to aid over its involvement in DRC conflict (CNBCAfrica.com)

LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Britain has warned Rwanda that its involvement in an escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo could jeopardise the ...

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

DRC leader vows 'vigorous' response as Rwanda-backed fighters ... (Aljazeera.com)

President Felix Tshisekedi blasts the 'silence and inaction' of the international community over the M23 offensive.

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Rwanda-backed M23 pledges to 'march all the way to Kinshasa' (eNCA)

The Rwanda-backed armed group M23 vowed Thursday to "continue the march of liberation" to the DR Congo capital Kinshasa, as its fighters made further ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Rwanda's stealth occupation of eastern Congo (Financial Times)

This week, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels occupied Goma, a city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the border with its tiny but militarily powerful ...

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Image courtesy of "News24"

DEVELOPING | Crisis between Rwanda and DRC is a 'very serious ... (News24)

Diplomatic lines with Kigali remain open despite a public spat between President Cyril Rampahosa and Rwandan president Paul Kagame.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Trump says crisis between Rwanda and DRC is a 'very serious ... (Reuters)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday described the crisis between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo as a "very serious problem."

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