A long and complex conflict: what's happening in the DRC?

Aubrey Masango speaks to Christian Rumu of Amnesty International for East and Southern Africa.

Listen below:

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For decades, the central African nation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been embroiled in conflict.

The roots of the DRC conflict can be traced back to the colonial era, but it intensified following the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.

Rume explains that in the aftermath of that genocide, there was an influx of Rwandan Hutu refugees to eastern DRC.

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"It has been 30 years of suffering for the people of the Great Lakes region."

- Christian Rumu, Amnesty International (East and Southern Africa) 

"In the aftermath, the forces who were responsible for that genocide were literally pushed into the DRC."

- Christian Rumu, Amnesty International (East and Southern Africa) 

Rumu explains that the conflict is multilayered and complex, involving ethnic tensions and competition for the country's vast mineral wealth.

He says while Rwanda claims that fighting close to the Rwandan border presents a threat to its security and territorial integrity, there are economic benefits to its supporting the M23 rebels.

"The economic reason would be minerals."

- Christian Rumu, Amnesty International (East and Southern Africa) 

Experts on the region say Rwanda is using the M23 rebel group as a shield to pursue its interests, although Rwanda denies supporting the group.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for an urgent ceasefire and the resumption of talks to end the conflict.  

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation unpacking the complex history of the conflict in the DRC.

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