Democratic Republic of the Congo: 10 facts you should know about the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AI Index: AFR 62/004/2013 20 March 2013 10 facts you should know about the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo What is the crisis in the DRC all about? [...] After two successive wars which tore apart the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1996 and 2003, the DRC government has failed to establish its authority across the vast country leading to the proliferation of a multitude of foreign and local armed groups, particularly in the east. [...] These groups have fought each other and the Congolese army (FARDC) for power, defence of their communities and control of natural resources, The on and off confrontation of these groups and the DRC national army has resulted in widespread human rights abuses committed by all parties, including torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers, extrajudicial execution [...] In late February 2013, existing divisions within the M23 armed group climaxed with open hostilities emerging within the group which led to the flight of Bosco Ntaganda and some of his close associates to Rwanda. [...] Countries who are not respecting the UN arms embargo on armed groups in the DRC have also contributed to the huge flow of weapons in the region.