Since the formal end of the Second Congo War in 2003, horrific fighting is occurring between multiple groups of native Congolese rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most prominent and “threatening” group of rebels are known as the M23. The M23 refers to the peace treaty signed by President, Joseph Kabilia, on March 23rd, 2009. The M23 believe that the government didn’t do an active job of living up to the treaty’s agreement and claim to be fighting due to their “lack of integrity.” Underpaid Congolese soldiers saw the M23 uprising as an opportunity to revolt, and did so eagerly. The M23 rebels grew in numbers and began recruiting young men and boys to increase their manpower. They began to take over large and overpopulated Congo cities such as Goma, which is North-Kivu’s capital. Power over the countries largest and most civilized areas gives the M23 rebels a large amount of control. The more important and populated cities and towns the rebels take over, the more people, resources, and government they have control over.
An estimated 140,000 people were forced to flee their homes by the government due to heavy violence in their region, by the end of November 2013. Conflict, not only in Goma but many other prominent towns and cities, began to escalate, spreading danger and violence rapidly from one city to the next. The more areas the rebels get their hands on, the more opportunities they have to overrule the towns and cities close to it.