Description

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Context

M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have advanced toward Goma, escalating tensions with Rwanda and triggering a humanitarian crisis.

About the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The DRC is the second-largest country in Africa, after Algeria, located in Central Africa.

The capital, Kinshasa, is located along the Congo River, which is the only river in Africa that crosses the equator twice.

Goma is a strategic city in eastern Congo, which is a hub for the region’s vast and largely untapped mineral wealth.

What’s the Latest?

In January 2025, M23 launched fresh attacks, taking control of Masisi and Minova—key towns just miles from Goma, a city of nearly two million people. As fighting intensifies, thousands are fleeing, supplies are running low, and the humanitarian crisis is deepening.

Who’s Involved?

The DRC government has openly accused Rwanda of backing M23, a charge Kigali denies. This has led to diplomatic ties being cut off between the two nations. Meanwhile, Burundian troops have joined forces with the Congolese army, adding another layer to the conflict. The UN and African Union are calling for a ceasefire, but fighting continues.

About Rwanda

Rwanda is a landlocked country located south of the Equator in east-central Africa.

It is located in the African Great Lakes region with the capital at Kigali.

Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin? (UPSC PYQ 2013)

(A) Cameroon

(B) Nigeria

(D) Uganda

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

Cameroon is a part of the Congo Basin. The Congo Basin is a vast region in Central Africa that encompasses several countries, including Cameroon.
Congo basin, basin of the Congo River, lying astride the Equator in west-central Africa. It is the world’s second-largest river basin (next to that of the Amazon), comprising an area of more than 1.3 million square miles (3.4 million square km). The vast drainage area of the Congo River includes almost the whole of the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of Cameroon and Tanzania.