The M23 rebel conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo began in 2012, when a group of soldiers defected from the Congolese army. The conflict was fueled by long standing ethnic tensions and competition for control of resources in the region. The M23 rebels, who were primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis, were supported by neighboring Rwanda, who benefited from more influence in Eastern Congo The M23 rebels quickly gained control of a significant portion of the eastern DRC, including the city of Goma. The conflict led to widespread displacement of civilians and reports of human rights abuses. Peace News spoke with experts to understand the challenges peacebuilders face while trying to reduce this conflict.
Experts interviewed: Paul Nantulya & Judith Verweijen
John Simms
John Simms is a multi-talented Digital Media Producer with a combined 9+ years of experience. He is well-versed in the creation of a wide range of media content including photography, journalistic writing, short films, documentaries, music videos, marketing videos, fundraising videos, and video scripts.
Ruth Omar
Meet the woman who believes journalism can make the world a better place. Ruth Omar is a journalist and a storyteller from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. After studying journalism and communication studies at Cavendish University Uganda, Ruth engaged in her career by raising people’s voices in her local community and Uganda. In 2019, she won the best technology news story prize at the Interuniversity Media Challenge Uganda. She is a 2020 Media Challenge Fellow. She is a Peace Building fellow from Never Again Rwanda. She has been publishing documentaries produced by different media houses, like BBC World Service, Les Hauts Parleurs and Human Angle, among others. She is a blogger and a voice-over artist. Social media manager and communications specialist from different organizations in Goma/DRC. She is a VOA Stringer and a Radio personality in Goma. She is passionate about telling African stories and changing the African narrative. She speaks French, English, and Kiswahili.
