A Weakened Country Under Siege by Two Foreign Armies

A Weakened Country Under Siege

While the world's attention is diverted by other crises, two foreign armies are seizing the opportunity to expand their control over eastern Congo. This weakened country's military is on the verge of collapse, offering little resistance to the encroaching forces.

The Rwandan-backed M23 militia, having already captured Goma and Bukavu, is pushing southward towards the Burundi border. Meanwhile, Uganda is sending tanks and soldiers across the border to bolster its own sphere of influence in the north.

Congo's military, plagued by corruption and poor discipline, has barely put up a fight. They lost Goma within days and retreated from Bukavu without resistance. They claim to be cooperating with Ugandan troops in Bunia, but had little choice after Uganda unilaterally announced the deployment.

The Congolese government has pleaded for international sanctions against Rwanda, but Western governments, focused on other crises, have done little beyond condemning Rwanda's role in the M23 assault.

This situation bears a chilling resemblance to earlier wars in Congo, from 1996 to 2003, where Rwanda and Uganda supported rebels who toppled the government, resulting in millions of deaths.

a "revolutionary struggle" to liberate the entire country from "bad governance." They have even threatened to march on the capital, Kinshasa.

Rwanda, wielding effective control over M23's operations, has deployed thousands of its own troops to support the rebels. This expansion of M23's control strengthens Rwanda's regional power and increases its access to Congo's strategic minerals.

The human cost of this conflict is immense. Millions have been displaced, hundreds killed in massacres, and thousands of children deprived of education due to school closures.

The international community must act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed and suffering in eastern Congo. This includes imposing sanctions on Rwanda, supporting the Congolese government, and providing humanitarian assistance to the affected population.