THE WAR in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has entered another week as the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group continues its offensive, advancing southward in an attempt to seize more territory. Congolese people across North Kivu and especially in the now-M23 controlled capital Goma face an increasingly dire humanitarian situation in what is a broader struggle over resources, power and geopolitical influence.

Reports indicate that the fighting has already led to casualties, including several UN peacekeepers, and at least 900 people were killed and almost 3,000 injured in the days of fighting in Goma leading up to its capture, according to the United Nations. Over 700,000 people have also been displaced.

Diplomatic fallout of General Cirimwami’s assassination 

On January 23, Major-General Peter Cirimwami, the military governor of North Kivu, was assassinated while visiting the front line to assess the deteriorating security situation. His death occurred while the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, was attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. In response, the DRC government has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda, accusing it of backing the M23 rebels. President Tshisekedi has vowed a “vigorous” military response to ongoing M23 incursion.

The developments in eastern Congo have received international condemnation. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres issued a statement on January 23 condemning the M23 offensive: “The secretary-general calls on the M23 to immediately cease its offensive, withdraw from all occupied areas, and abide by the 31 July 2024 ceasefire agreement,” he stated. 

He also expressed concern over reports confirming the presence of Rwandan troops in the DRC and their continued support for the rebels. On January 26, Guterres reiterated his concerns and condemned the deaths of the two UN peacekeepers participating in the Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Monusco). He added that, “attacks against United Nations personnel may constitute a war crime” and demanded the withdrawal of M23 and Rwandan forces from the DRC.

Angola’s President Joao Lourenco, the African Union’s mediator, has also demanded the immediate withdrawal of Rwandan forces and the resumption of peace talks.

The humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate, with Goma’s population deprived of electricity and drinking water, leaving hundreds of thousands of families in desperate conditions. Hospitals, including Ndosho and Kyeshero in Goma, are overwhelmed. The UN deputy relief chief has warned that the crisis in eastern DRC is “at a dangerous point.”

The economic and geopolitical stakes

The ongoing violence in eastern DRC is directly linked to the country’s vast mineral wealth. However, narratives portraying Rwanda’s actions as self-defence or framing the M23 as a liberation movement fighting for its rights in Congo continue to circulate, attempting to justify the war on Congolese soil.

The region around Goma is rich in coltan, gold, cassiterite and other valuable resources that have long been a target for illicit exploitation. The DRC has been placed at the bottom of the global capitalist supply chain, with its resources extracted for profit while its people suffer from extreme poverty.

Despite the DRC being one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of natural resources, the Congolese people remain impoverished. In 2022 alone, copper and cobalt exports totalled $25 billion — over a third of the country’s GDP. Yet, 74.6 per cent of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day. Rwanda and other neighbouring countries have long benefited from smuggling these resources, making conflict a lucrative enterprise. Questions have also been raised about how Rwanda’s mineral exports have reached over a billion dollars a year in recent years.

Rwanda’s role escalates regional tensions

Booker Omole, general secretary of the Communist Party Marxist (CPM) Kenya, has criticised Rwandan President Paul Kagame for his country’s role in the ongoing war, stating: “Kagame’s argument is merely a smokescreen for Rwanda’s imperialist-backed war of aggression against the DRC. Some have even distorted the words of Julius Nyerere and Nelson Mandela to justify this war, but let us be clear: this is not a class struggle — it is an imperialist-driven campaign to loot Congo’s resources.”

South Africa has also entered the conversation, with President Cyril Ramaphosa warning the Rwandan president about attacks on South African troops deployed in the DRC. Thirteen South African soldiers have been killed in the past week as part of both the UN peacekeeping mission and the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Mission in the DRC. 

Kagame, however, has accused South Africa of playing both sides — pretending to mediate while simultaneously supporting Congolese forces. He has rejected South Africa as a neutral mediator.

Congolese protests: the fight for sovereignty and peace

Meanwhile, Congolese citizens have taken to the streets to protest the inaction of the international community. Several foreign embassies, including those of Kenya, France and Uganda, were attacked by demonstrators accusing them of supporting the rebels, demonstrating a clear understanding of who is benefiting from this conflict. Calls for a peaceful resolution continue, but President Tshisekedi insists that negotiations should be held only with Rwanda, not the rebels. 

Rwanda, however, continues to deny any involvement in the conflict, despite widespread acknowledgement of its support for M23. 

It is interesting to note that different regional actors and bodies have suggested Congo should negotiate peacefully with the M23, rather than the rebels being urged to withdraw. This position raises questions about the sincerity of regional neighbours and the international community in resolving this conflict.

In a solidarity statement, the Pan Africanism Today Secretariat joined people’s movements and organisations worldwide in expressing deep concern over the latest escalation, stating: “The African continent and its people have long insisted that our sovereignty must be respected. The decisions on how best to utilise the abundant resources of the DRC must be made by and for the Congolese people. It is clear that imperialist countries, and their African allies and proxies, are adamant about continuing to build prosperity for their own peoples at the expense of the Congolese people. This has escalated to the point where the plunder of the DRC is, once more, perpetrated through the barrel of a gun.”

Imperialist exploitation and the future of the DRC

Now, more than 21 million people across the DRC require humanitarian aid — one of the highest figures globally. Before this latest escalation, 5.1 million people had already been displaced due to years of conflict. The continuous cycle of violence, displacement and foreign interference has taken a devastating toll on the Congolese people. 

Bombings in displacement camps have killed civilians, including children, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee yet again.

The battle for Goma is more than just a military confrontation. Ethnic narratives or claims of self-defence cannot overshadow the long-standing exploitation of the DRC’s resources and the devastating impact of foreign interference. The normalisation of imperialist aggression is unacceptable because it will only perpetuate the injustices inflicted upon the country. 

Without a fundamental shift in how the world engages with the DRC, the cycle of war and plunder—deliberately created for exploitation—will persist.

This article appeared at peoplesdispatch.org.