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The capture of Goma by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia in November sent shock waves throughout the Congo and the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Due in large part to external pressure, the militia returned control of the city to the Congolese government and peace talks have begun between the M23 and the government. However, the M23 militia remain within miles of the city and is believed to have many of its men in the city disguised as civilians. Moreover, M23 is still in control of several other key cities that they have captured in the North Kivu province of the Congo.

The United Nations Group of Experts (GOE) reported that Rwandan Defence Forces participated in the  capture of the city of Goma  as they have in previous cities taken by M23.

"Throughout  its  current  mandate,  the  Group  has  repeatedly  concluded  that  the  Government  of Rwanda  (GoR) ,  with  the  support  of  allies  within  the  Government  of  Uganda,  has  created, equipped,  trained,  advised,  reinforced  and  directly  commanded  the  M23  rebellion.  The information initially gathered by the Group regarding the recent offensive and seizure of the North Kivu Provincial town of Goma strongly upholds this conclusion."  Click here (PDF) for report!

Despite the abundance of evidence demonstrating Rwanda's involvement and command of the M23 militia, the response from the international community remains tepid and inadequate.

Peace talks, resolutions, reports, summits and Congressional hearings may be held, however, stability will be unattainable if the illicit networks and militia backed by Rwanda and Uganda are not dismantled. The lack of political will at the international level to hold accountable the key leaders responsible for the instability and suffering in the region (particularly Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Joseph Kabila of DRC) has helped to perpetuate the conflict in eastern Congo.

Friends of the Congo spokesperson, Kambale Musavuli shares in a New York Times Room For Debate commentary and on Al Jazeera's Inside Story the role the international community can play to help advance peace and stability in the region.

We are quickly approaching the global consensus needed for concrete and meaningful action to be taken to fully address the crisis in the Congo. The pressure must be kept up at every conceivable level of the international community to keep Congo on the agenda until the country is set on a path to peace and stability. Visit FOTC's, Congo crisis section to participate in ongoing actions and access the latest updates, news, reports, resolutions and events.  Please see below recent developments as the momentum grows: