Wealth and Warfare Empower a Rwanda-Backed Militant Group in Congo
Rare-earth minerals critical for smartphone manufacturing. Lucrative trafficking routes and dizzying stockpiles of weapons. The lives of millions of people. All are now under the control of the M23 militia and its powerful backer, Rwanda.
M23 reigns over a vast territory in eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to lucrative mines and other natural resources. In the major city of Goma, on the border with Rwanda, M23's soldiers now patrol the streets and M23-appointed officials rule the city. Congo's large but inept army has not slowed the group's advance, nor has condemnation by the United Nations Security Council.
After months of fighting, the leaders of Congo and Rwanda held talks in Qatar this week and called for an immediate cease-fire. M23 declined to comment on whether it would honor the cease-fire.
Last month, The Times traveled to Goma days after its capture by M23.
Butembo
Democratic
Republic
of Congo
Detail
Lake
Edward
uganda
M23's area
of influence
Rutshuru
Goma
Rubaya
coltan mine
RWANDA
Lake
Kivu
Kibuye
Bukavu
BURUNDI
60 miles
Democratic
Republic
of Congo
Lake Edward
60 miles
M23's area
of influence
uganda
Rutshuru
Rubaya
coltan mine
Goma
Lake
Kivu
RWANDA
Kibuye
Bukavu
Detail
tanzania
BURUNDI
Note: Data as of March 14
Source: International Peace Information Service
By Samuel Granados
M23, once a ragtag militia, now behaves like a governing entity in buzzing cities, lucrative coltan and gold mines, and strategic border crossings. Its immigration officers stamp passports, and in a city still scarred by deadly fighting, its leaders have urged young people to join its army so they can 'liberate Congo.'
The group has vowed to march on Kinshasa, Congo's capital. That makes M23 and Rwanda a threat to the sovereignty of Congo, the biggest country in sub-Saharan Africa by territory, with more than 100 million people, where millions of people have died in the last three decades in endless wars.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Appointee To CDC Advisory Committee Was A Paid Expert In Merck's Gardasil Lawsuit
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named eight new members to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday, including several anti-vaccine proponents, after dismissing all 17 existing advisers. Kennedy justified the overhaul to 're-establish public confidence in vaccine science,' claiming, without providing specific evidence, that prior Biden-appointed members had conflicts of interest. The new eight-member committee represents the minimum allowed under ACIP's founding charter. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist, was among eight individuals selected by Kennedy to join the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Kulldorff has been an outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates. His appointment has also raised questions due to his paid involvement in litigation against a major vaccine manufacturer, according to Reuters. Citing court records, Reuters notes that Kulldorff served as an expert witness in lawsuits against Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) over its Gardasil vaccine, which is used to prevent cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The plaintiff accused the pharmaceutical company of not properly disclosing the vaccine's risks. Gardasil was approved in the U.S. in 2006 after going through clinical trials to prove its safety and a deposition in October, Kulldorff acknowledged that he had been paid $400 an hour for his work on the case and had billed approximately $33,000 through September. He also received a $4,000 retainer in connection with the North Carolina lawsuit, which was part of a broader legal effort encompassing about 200 related cases. In March, a federal judge ruled in favor of Merck in that particular case. Kulldorff's paid role as a litigation consultant could conflict with ACIP's established rules. According to the committee's guidelines, members are prohibited from serving as paid expert witnesses or litigation consultants in cases involving vaccine manufacturers while actively serving on the panel. Gardasil/Gardasil 9 sales declined 41% to $1.33 billion in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to lower demand in China, partially offset by higher demand in most international regions, particularly in Japan, and higher pricing and demand in the U.S. Excluding China, sales grew 14%, or 16%, excluding the impact of foreign exchange. Read Next: Are you rich? Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Bezos' Favorite Real Estate Platform Launches A Way To Ride The Ongoing Private Credit Boom Photo: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article RFK Jr. Appointee To CDC Advisory Committee Was A Paid Expert In Merck's Gardasil Lawsuit originally appeared on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. Appointee To CDC Advisory Committee Was A Paid Expert In Merck's Gardasil Lawsuit
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named eight new members to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday, including several anti-vaccine proponents, after dismissing all 17 existing advisers. Kennedy justified the overhaul to 're-establish public confidence in vaccine science,' claiming, without providing specific evidence, that prior Biden-appointed members had conflicts of interest. The new eight-member committee represents the minimum allowed under ACIP's founding charter. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist, was among eight individuals selected by Kennedy to join the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Kulldorff has been an outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates. His appointment has also raised questions due to his paid involvement in litigation against a major vaccine manufacturer, according to Reuters. Citing court records, Reuters notes that Kulldorff served as an expert witness in lawsuits against Merck & Co Inc (NYSE:MRK) over its Gardasil vaccine, which is used to prevent cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The plaintiff accused the pharmaceutical company of not properly disclosing the vaccine's risks. Gardasil was approved in the U.S. in 2006 after going through clinical trials to prove its safety and a deposition in October, Kulldorff acknowledged that he had been paid $400 an hour for his work on the case and had billed approximately $33,000 through September. He also received a $4,000 retainer in connection with the North Carolina lawsuit, which was part of a broader legal effort encompassing about 200 related cases. In March, a federal judge ruled in favor of Merck in that particular case. Kulldorff's paid role as a litigation consultant could conflict with ACIP's established rules. According to the committee's guidelines, members are prohibited from serving as paid expert witnesses or litigation consultants in cases involving vaccine manufacturers while actively serving on the panel. Gardasil/Gardasil 9 sales declined 41% to $1.33 billion in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to lower demand in China, partially offset by higher demand in most international regions, particularly in Japan, and higher pricing and demand in the U.S. Excluding China, sales grew 14%, or 16%, excluding the impact of foreign exchange. Read Next: Are you rich? Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Bezos' Favorite Real Estate Platform Launches A Way To Ride The Ongoing Private Credit Boom Photo: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article RFK Jr. Appointee To CDC Advisory Committee Was A Paid Expert In Merck's Gardasil Lawsuit originally appeared on
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iran threatens to hit US bases in the Middle East: What is the threat level?
Iran on Friday said the U.S., as a "backer" of Israel, "shall be held fully accountable" for the series of strikes Jerusalem levied overnight against Tehran, its nuclear and military facilities, and top officials – deepening retaliatory concerns over U.S. bases near Iran. The U.N. Mission to Iran sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council condemning the attacks that killed four military commanders, one Iranian official allegedly involved in the nuclear talks with the U.S., and two nuclear scientists, and said that Israel's "conduct" in the region "poses a serious threat to international security." But earlier this week, just days ahead of a planned meeting between Washington and Tehran in Oman to discuss nuclear negotiations, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh threatened to hit U.S. bases in the Middle East, should Israel once again directly strike the Persian nation. Inside Israel's Secret War In Iran: Mossad Commandos, Hidden Drones And The Strike That Stunned Tehran "Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don't come to fruition," Nasirzadeh said, according to Reuters following early reporting that Jerusalem was considering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. "If a conflict is imposed on us … all U.S. bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries." The Trump administration announced a partial evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Iraq and authorized military dependents to leave locations across the Middle East, but it remains unclear how many Americans are expected to depart from the region. Read On The Fox News App President Donald Trump on Thursday said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution and told reporters "I had to do it." "We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said, we got to tell them to get out because something could happen soon, and I don't want to be the one that didn't give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings," he added in reference to the feared military escalation between Israel and Iran. Defense officials in October 2024 said some 40,000 service members were stationed throughout the Middle East, many of which are in striking range of Iran. Iran Claims Right To Nuclear Prowess Following Israel Strikes, But Remains Silent On Negotiations With Us The U.S. military has at least 19 sites spread across the region, eight of which are considered to be permanent, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. These sites are located in countries that border or are geographically near Iran, including Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. But Iran's lack of immediate defensive response to Israel's Thursday night strike has prompted questions over whether Tehran would be able to pick a fight with the U.S. and create a third front. "Given the fact that in January 2020, Iran launched short-range, precision strike ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq for killing Qasem Soleimani – the regime's chief terrorist – this is not a theoretical exercise," Iran expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Benham Ben Taleblu told Fox News Digital. "The regime has proven an ability to land blows at these bases before. "It is possible, and it's not theoretical, given that the regime has done this in the past and lived to tell the tale," he added. Ben Taleblu said he believes that Iran, at this moment, is looking to make sure the U.S. is not only uninterested in engaging in direct conflict against Tehran, but could even distance itself from Israel. "There is a political element to the regime continuously threatening America, which is to try to take advantage of the desire for de-escalation that exists in America," the expert added. "To try to put as much daylight between America and Israel as possible, and to turn America from an ally or partner of Israel, into just observer of yet another Middle East crisis. "This is how Tehran is politically, trying to put America on the sidelines when militarily, it might struggle – militarily, it would struggle," Ben Taleblu article source: Iran threatens to hit US bases in the Middle East: What is the threat level?
