Congo Countdown: M23 Won’t Back Down

The rebel group vows to fight the United Nations.

M23 Won't Back Down - The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) M23 rebels appear to be calling the shots as reports say the group is stacking its ranks through kidnappings and filling its coffers through ransom. BET.com takes a look at the latest developments in the DRC’s fight against the group. — Naeesa Aziz  (Photo: AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

1 / 13

M23 Won't Back Down - The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) M23 rebels appear to be calling the shots as reports say the group is stacking its ranks through kidnappings and filling its coffers through ransom. BET.com takes a look at the latest developments in the DRC’s fight against the group. — Naeesa Aziz  (Photo: AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

Homegrown Origins - The M23 rebels (also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army) are former Congolese soldiers who defected in April 2012 and seek to overthrow the government. The name M23 comes from a peace deal signed on March 23, 2009, that the rebels say the government hasn't honored. (Photo: DAI KUROKAWA /LANDOV/EPA)

2 / 13

Homegrown Origins - The M23 rebels (also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army) are former Congolese soldiers who defected in April 2012 and seek to overthrow the government. The name M23 comes from a peace deal signed on March 23, 2009, that the rebels say the government hasn't honored. (Photo: DAI KUROKAWA /LANDOV/EPA)

Refugee Numbers Rise in DRC - Humanitarian workers warn that the number of refugees taking shelter from fighting is rising in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) estimates that there are more than 800,000 displaced people in North Kivu. (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

3 / 13

Taken - A community leader in the eastern Congo said nearly 30 people have been kidnapped by the M23 rebels in Rutshuru since the beginning of April. The report corroborates accounts from the United Nations refugee agency in Uganda who says that hundreds of Congolese are fleeing to Uganda to avoid capture by the group.  (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

Intervention - In response to reports of human rights abuses by M23 in and around the eastern Congolese city of Goma, the U.N. security council renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in the Congo (Monusco) and approved the creation of a 3,000-strong "intervention brigade."  (Photo: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri)

4 / 13

Intervention - In response to reports of human rights abuses by M23 in and around the eastern Congolese city of Goma, the U.N. security council renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in the Congo (Monusco) and approved the creation of a 3,000-strong "intervention brigade."  (Photo: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri)

Rebuffed - M23 did not take the U.N. advances lightly. The group deemed all negotiations with the government off in retaliation and vowed to rally against the U.N. troops, responding with "full force" to any potential attack.  (Photo: REUTERS/Jonny Hogg)

5 / 13

Rebuffed - M23 did not take the U.N. advances lightly. The group deemed all negotiations with the government off in retaliation and vowed to rally against the U.N. troops, responding with "full force" to any potential attack.  (Photo: REUTERS/Jonny Hogg)

ADVERTISEMENT
Ready - M23 military spokesman Colonel Vianney Kazarama confidently told the Guardian, "We are ready for this brigade.… They will not know the terrain, our tactics, not even the local languages. It will take them weeks to organize. If they attack we will respond very quickly and with full force." (Photo: AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

6 / 13

Ready - M23 military spokesman Colonel Vianney Kazarama confidently told the Guardian, "We are ready for this brigade.… They will not know the terrain, our tactics, not even the local languages. It will take them weeks to organize. If they attack we will respond very quickly and with full force." (Photo: AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

Role Reversal - Although M23 is a "rebel" group, reports from Uganda say that the group operates much more like a professional army than the country’s actual troops. The M23 is said to be well equipped and projects the appearance of military discipline, while national troops are a struggling group accused of robberies and rapes around the country.  (Photo: DAI KUROKAWA /LANDOV/EPA)

7 / 13

Role Reversal - Although M23 is a "rebel" group, reports from Uganda say that the group operates much more like a professional army than the country’s actual troops. The M23 is said to be well equipped and projects the appearance of military discipline, while national troops are a struggling group accused of robberies and rapes around the country.  (Photo: DAI KUROKAWA /LANDOV/EPA)

Multi-National Force - The U.N. intervention force will include troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi and will be equipped with an artillery unit and attack helicopters. The purpose of the mission is to put down the year-long M23 rebellion and other armed groups operating in eastern DRC.  (photo: REUTERS/Jonny Hogg)

8 / 13

Multi-National Force - The U.N. intervention force will include troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi and will be equipped with an artillery unit and attack helicopters. The purpose of the mission is to put down the year-long M23 rebellion and other armed groups operating in eastern DRC.  (photo: REUTERS/Jonny Hogg)

Loss of Confidence - The U.N. action also caused the rebels to lose all faith in the government negotiation process, despite being in mediated peace talks with government representatives for several months."For us, as M23, there is a break from the talks," M23 spokesman Rene Abandi, told the Associated Press. "We will hope that the government [of DRC] will understand later that war can't solve the conflict in eastern DRC."  (Photo: REUTERS/Jonny Hogg)

9 / 13

Loss of Confidence - The U.N. action also caused the rebels to lose all faith in the government negotiation process, despite being in mediated peace talks with government representatives for several months."For us, as M23, there is a break from the talks," M23 spokesman Rene Abandi, told the Associated Press. "We will hope that the government [of DRC] will understand later that war can't solve the conflict in eastern DRC."  (Photo: REUTERS/Jonny Hogg)

Rebels Declare Ceasefire - The M23 rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire ahead of a second round of peace talks scheduled with the government. In a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 8, M23 executive secretary Francois Rucogoza said the group will still participate in negotiations even if the government does not also declare a ceasefire. (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

10 / 13

Rebels Declare Ceasefire - The M23 rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire ahead of a second round of peace talks scheduled with the government. In a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 8, M23 executive secretary Francois Rucogoza said the group will still participate in negotiations even if the government does not also declare a ceasefire. (Photo: REUTERS/James Akena)

ADVERTISEMENT
Man Down - In March, M23 lost its alleged founder, Bosco Ntaganda, when he surrendered to the International Criminal Court to face war-crimes charges. Ntaganda bore the nickname "The Terminator" for his ruthless style of command. (Photo: REUTERS/Peter Dejong/Pool)

11 / 13

Man Down - In March, M23 lost its alleged founder, Bosco Ntaganda, when he surrendered to the International Criminal Court to face war-crimes charges. Ntaganda bore the nickname "The Terminator" for his ruthless style of command. (Photo: REUTERS/Peter Dejong/Pool)

Congo in Crisis - Congo rebels M23 announced they will withdraw from Goma by Friday. Separately, the U.N.'s special representative for the Democratic Republic of Congo said Wednesday that multiple rebel militias in the eastern part of the country are stretching the 19,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force present in the country thin. (Photo: EPA/DAI KUROKAWA /LANDOV)

12 / 13

Regional Backing - The M23 are rumored to be backed by neighboring nations Rwanda and Uganda, although both states deny such accounts. Many of the M23 soldiers hail from Rwanda’s minority Tutsi ethnic group, which was persecuted during the country’s 1994 genocide. (Photo: DAI KUROKAWA /LANDOV/EPA)

Displacement Dilemma - The ongoing conflict between the M23 and the Congolese government has displaced nearly 500,000 people. Since April, M23 has occupied large parts of Congo’s mineral-rich East. (Photo: Jerome Delay/AP Photo)

13 / 13

Displacement Dilemma - The ongoing conflict between the M23 and the Congolese government has displaced nearly 500,000 people. Since April, M23 has occupied large parts of Congo’s mineral-rich East. (Photo: Jerome Delay/AP Photo)