Artical Link: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/6/east-africa-leaders-extend-regional-troop-mandate-in-dr-congo
Summary: Currently in Africa, there have been tons of terrorist risings across the continent, the ECA, the seven-nation East African Community, first deployed troops into different countries in November due to the resurgence of the terrorist group M23, otherwise known as March 23. M23 is a rebel group that resurged in 2012 when they captured the city of Goma. They have continued to attack countries ever since then. Multiple countries have continued to blame Rwanda for these attacks and the forming of this group, including America. Rwanda repeatedly denies these claims and refutes DR Congo’s claims with accusations of cross-border shelling.
Analysis: DR Congo and Rwanda seem to be the main countries that have conflict when it comes to the issue of the M23 group. Whether Rwanda is the source of this group or not, the claims from DR Congo and other Western countries are definitely adding tension between these countries and potentially adding fuel to the fire. On the other hand, this article focuses on the expansion of troops to combat the M23 group, while this is the right effort some people could start to question these attempts due to the rising death toll of peacekeepers. The tensions with this issue are rising and it is starting to include more Western countries, as more missions get deployed there could be a chance of war due to the tensions.
Connection to Class: In class, we have repeatedly seen the rise of tensions due to countries feeling targeted leading to further conflict, this is generally how most wars are started. This could be approached from two angles, the first one being that if Rwanda is continually blamed for the M23 group it could anger them and lead to them feeling attacked or targeted. Another way for this issue to be approached is from the viewpoint of DR Congo and other surrounding countries. If these countries view this group as enough of a threat this issue could lead to countries using their full military force against this group and lead to a lot more violence surrounding this issue.