How Congo Defeated the M23 Rebels - The Daily Beast

by John Prendergast:

Good news is hard to come by in Congo, so no one should be surprised to see Congolese citizens dancing in the streets these days, overjoyed by their government’s rare battlefield victory over the reviled M23 rebellion.  For the last year and a half, the M23 has destabilized wide swathes of eastern Congo, committing horrific atrocities in the areas it controlled.  A huge opportunity exists now to build on the momentum of the M23’s demise by pivoting to inclusive regional and internal processes aimed at addressing the core drivers of violence that have condemned Congo to being the deadliest conflict in the world since World War II.

A surrendered M23 rebel, center, is transported from the frontline by Congolese soldiers near the village of Kibati, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sept. 25, 2013. (Pete Muller/The New York Times, via Redux)

Only a year ago, the M23 took control of the largest town in eastern Congo and had the clear upper hand in the conflict.  What changed since then?  Three variables were decisive, and lessons can be derived from all three for what remains to be done for lasting peace to have a chance............

FULL ARTICLE: How Congo Defeated the M23 Rebels - The Daily Beast

Opinion: Peace for contrasting conflicts - John Prendergast - POLITICO.com

Both countries need comprehensive, inclusive peace processes, the author writes. | AP Photo

By JOHN PRENDERGAST | 3/14/13 10:30 PM EDT 

Not all rebellions are born alike. Nowhere could the contrast between freedom fighters and occupiers be more evident than in traveling through rebel-controlled territories of Sudan and Congo, respectively. In the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, residents expressed a willingness to fight and die in support of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North and its quest for political change. In eastern Congo, civilians described a predatory foreign-backed occupying rebel force, the M23, against which local armed groups are allying, leading to further rounds of devastating conflict. Understanding the differences provides insights into how peace might be more effectively pursued in both places, arguably the two deadliest wars globally since the 1940s.........

FULL ARTICLE: Opinion: Peace for contrasting conflicts - John Prendergast - POLITICO.com