Rwandan-backed M23 rebels who in late January captured Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo, have since been advancing around one of Africa's great lakes, Lake Kivu, towards the second-biggest city in the area,

Over six decades after the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gained independence, its eastern provinces continue to face violence, exploitation, and geopolitical manipulation. The rise of the M23 rebel group and increasing tensions with Rwanda reflect a longstanding conflict rooted in colonial exploitation and the ongoing scramble for resources.