Context: The recent clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between Congolese army and Rwandan backed M23 group have sparked global concern.
Key Facts for Prelims:
- Tutsis and Hutus: The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred in 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group were killed by armed Hutu militias.
- Zaire: It was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 1997.
- North Kivu and South Kivu: These provinces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were embroiled in the Kivu armed conflict over natural resources. #UPSC Prelims 2023
- M23 or March 23 movement (also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army): It was formed by Tutsis to defend their interests against Hutu militias in 2012.
About Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
- Democratic Republic of the Congo, country located in central Africa.
- Officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the country has a 25-mile (40-km) coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, hence not landlocked.
- It is the second largest country on the continent; only Algeria is larger.
- The capital, Kinshasa, is located on the Congo River.
