What is the conflict between Rwanda and Congo?

Policing Minister Chris Philp has made headlines for seeming to be confused about Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

While discussing the Government’s Rwanda scheme, an audience member on BBC Question Time asked about what the fate of his family (from the Congo) would be under the plan.

He said: “I come from a neighbouring country called Congo – it’s located right next door to Rwanda – and right now in Goma, there’s a genocide going on and such a big conflict going on with Rwanda.

“So, had my family members come from Goma on a crossing right now, would they then be sent back to the country that they’re supposedly warring – Rwanda?”

Mr Philp replied: “No, I think there’s an exclusion on people from Rwanda being sent to Rwanda.”

After the audience member objected that his parents were “not from Rwanda”, the Conservative MP appeared to ask: “Well, I mean, Rwanda is a different country to Congo isn’t it?”

A source close to Mr Philp insisted he was not confused about African geography, but had simply found it difficult to hear what the questioner was saying.

But to answer the question, yes Rwanda is very much a different country to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In fact, the two East African countries have been fighting with each other for decades.

The escalation of violent clashes between the DRC and the allegedly Rwandan-backed M23 Tutsi-led rebels was in the news as recently as February – scores have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

A few weeks ago, Congolese people took to the streets to protest against the turmoil in that region, accusing the international community of not holding Rwanda accountable for its support of the M23 rebels.

The M23 is the latest in a series of groups of ethnic Tutsi-led insurgents to rise up against Congolese forces. They claim to defend Tutsi interests against Hutu militias who were linked to the 1994 Tutsi genocide.

The group has accused the DRC’s government of not living up to their agreed peace deal to fully integrate Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration.

In 2012 and 2013, M23 seized large parts of eastern Congo and entered Goma, a strategic economic hub, before they were chased out by Congolese and UN forces into Uganda and Rwanda.

In March 2022, the M23 launched a series of attacks and seized large areas of eastern Congo, saying the move was a defensive response to attacks by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) - founded by Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide.

Rwanda and Uganda have a long history of military intervention inside Congo. The two countries invaded in 1996 and 1998, claiming they were defending themselves against local militia groups.

Several nations, including the US, have urged Rwanda to withdraw its military personnel from Congo and remove surface-to-air missile systems.

The M23 has long been accused of multiple human rights violations and atrocities.

Human Rights Watch said on February 6 that the M23 had committed executions without trial and forced civilians into military recruitment.

But Rwanda insists that its national security is in danger and has referenced Congolese officials threatening to invade the country.

The Rwandan government officially denies backing the M23 but multiple nations, including the US, and international bodies, including the United Nations, accept that they do.

A few weeks ago, after the most recent hostilities broke out, Human Rights Watch said: “Recent investigations by the United Nations Group of Experts on Congo, as well as Human Rights Watch research, provide significant photographic and other evidence that Rwanda is not only giving logistical support to the M23, but that Rwandan troops are reinforcing or fighting alongside the armed group inside Congo.”

Senior Congo researcher at Human Rights Watch Thomas Fessy said: “The Rwandan government’s support for the abusive M23 rebels is raising concerns about further ethnic violence in eastern Congo.

“Greater international pressure is urgently needed so that Rwanda and Congo take all steps necessary to end abuses and ensure the protection of ethnic groups under threat.”