Congo and M23 rebels plan to hold first direct talks on April 9
ReutersMAR 29
The Eastern Congo Conflict
Above: A M23 soldier stands in the Masisi territory, DRC on March 5, 2025. Image copyright: Camille Laffont/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
What has been known for a long time is finally official: even the U.N. recognizes that Rwanda is complicit in the unspeakable suffering in eastern DRC by supporting rebel groups. Rwanda has been meddling in Congolese affairs since its military intervention in the country in the late 1990s and has continuously plundered the DRC's resources. The West must stop turning a blind eye to Rwanda's criminal actions in the DRC.
Narrative B
Though Kinshasa likes to portray itself as a victim to the international community, in reality, it is Rwanda that is suffering from the DRC's instability. If any foreign power is truly to blame for the Congo's problems, it is the West, not Rwanda. The perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide are still active in eastern Congo, and Rwanda simply wants to prevent more crimes against humanity like those commited in 1994.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though Western analysts continue to push the flawed "resource curse" theory, the conflict in the Congo is the direct result of Western companies' desire for said resources. From the onset of colonial rule in the country, the West has sought to exploit the Congo's mineral wealth, fueling ongoing instability, brutality, and war. The continued lack of international media coverage is the final insult, underscoring the West's enduring racism and double standards.