Why M23 Exists: The History, Grievances and Politics Behind Eastern DRC’s Conflict Premium

For many observers unfamiliar with the conflict in eastern DRC, the March 23 Movement (M23) appears to have emerged suddenly in late 2021. That narrative, frequently advanced by the Congolese government and echoed by sections of the international media, portrays M23—now aligned with the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC)—as a recent insurgency backed by foreign states. Regional analysts, however, argue that such an explanation strips the conflict of its historical context.