THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT
The conflict in the resource-rich eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is escalating into a significant geopolitical and geoeconomic concern, characterized by military mobilizations and political tensions that have broader implications for regional stability and international relations.
The deployment of surface-to-air missiles by Rwanda to the border, the tripling of its army presence there, and the closure of the Burundi border with Rwanda in support of the DRC highlight a dramatic shift from internal conflicts to a potential interstate conflict, the likes of which the region has not witnessed since 1998.
The international community's response, including new UN sanctions and public criticism of Rwandan President Paul Kagame belie the importance and reconfiguration of great power geostrategy in the Great Lakes region--which could have ramifications well beyond eastern Africa.
NOTE: The Relay Team, which puts together the SundaySync, engaged in in-depth discussions last week (22 February) which yielded insight into the escalating tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. The information below has been derived from those exchanges.
CONTEXT
While DRC and Rwanda are at the center of this escalating conflict that threatens to destabilize the broader East African Community (EAC) common market, the situation is exacerbated by the involvement of external actors.
Local contacts suggest that the "hidden hand" of new players may be amplifying the crisis:
