①Read Osman, J’s recounting of previous conflicts leading up to current events on Channel 4’s website:
DRC civil war: M23 rebels and a decades long conflict – Channel 4 News
②For a full history of the region prior to, during and post-colonial rule, read Weise and Cordell’s History Of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo/Belgian-paternalism-and-the-politics-of-decolonization
③The Chapter Mobutu’s regime within Weise and Cordell’s History Of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Democratic-Republic-of-the-Congo/Belgian-paternalism-and-the-politics-of-decolonization offers more insight into the nature of Western relations with postcolonial DRC.
④For details pertaining to the nature of this conflict consult Human Rights watch website: Rwandan forces, M23 rebels shell civilians, Human Rights Watch. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/26/dr-congo-rwandan-forces-m23-rebels-shell-civilians
⑥See imbedded video of a Congolese survivor’s account of the mass confusion and constant threat to life. Osman, J. (2025) DRC Civil War: M23 rebels make plans to rule, Channel 4 News. Available at: https://www.channel4.com/news/drc-civil-war-m23-rebels-make-plans-to-rule
⑦Documentation of Sultani Makenga’s career and professed reasons for fighting see: Chibelushi, W. (2025) Sultani Makenga: The M23 leader whose career charts the turmoil in Rwanda and DR Congo, BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq0gxp04q2o
⑧For a larger summary of Human Rights violations see: Human rights in democratic republic of the Congo Amnesty International. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-lakes/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/report-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
⑨See imbedded video of M23 representative justifying their actions. Osman, J. (2025) DRC Civil War: DRC war: Fight for freedom earning M23 rebels a fortune [Dubbed] – Channel 4 News