DRC leader calls for military recruits as Rwandan-backed rebels advance
GuardianJAN 30
DRC: M23 Rebels Advance, Vow Kinshasa March
Above: M23 leaders hold a press conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Jan. 30, 2025. Image copyright: Cyrile Ndegeya/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Rwanda is using M23 as a proxy force to pillage Congo's valuable mineral resources worth an estimated $24T, while violating territorial sovereignty and causing a humanitarian crisis that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. There must be accountability in this horrific humanitarian tragedy.
Narrative B
The M23 rebellion is necessary to protect ethnic Tutsi rights in Congo and eliminate genocidal Hutu militias that threaten Rwanda's security. The advance aims to establish better governance and restore essential services in captured territories.