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DW
6 days ago
- Sport
- DW
Prospects for peace and World Cup lift mood in DR Congo – DW – 07/10/2025
A new sense of hope is in the air the DR Congo, fueled by a recent peace deal and the prospect of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. These are busy times for football in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The women's team are playing in the African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2012 while the men are currently top of their qualification group for the 2026 World Cup, putting them on course for a first appearance on the global stage since 1974. Off the pitch, there is also encouraging news. If a peace deal that was signed in June between the country and neighboring Rwanda holds, enduring violence could recede and citizens could have a fresh chance to play or watch sport. The eastern region of the 11th biggest country in the world has been dogged by violence for the past 30 years, which has, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, resulted in the deaths of approximately six million people. Fighting escalated earlier this year as M23, a rebel paramilitary group that, according to the Congo and the United Nations, is backed by Rwanda, made inroads against the Congolese army. Details of the peace plan, brokered by the United States, may be currently vague with concerns over whether it can hold and the low levels of trust between the two parties, but the prospect of stability is a welcome one. "Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world," Murithi Mutiga, Africa Program Director at the International Crisis Group, told DW. "One hopes that eventually this [peace deal] will be implemented and with luck and also concerted diplomatic efforts, that Congo may reach its potential." If the fighting stops, football can continue all over the country. "In terms of the national game, a peace deal needs to be sorted because a number of the clubs that are based in the east of the country have not been able to play as a result of the recent conflict and invasion," Guy Burton, an international research analyst on conflict and peace, told DW. "Ultimately for the game to flourish, you need to have stability, you need to have peace. When war is happening, the priority is just to survive." Peace is just a start. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Provided it is followed by concrete and sustainable implementation, the state and investors can better finance the rehabilitation of stadiums, community fields, and training centers," Francisco Mulonga, president of football club Sporting Club de Kinshasa, told DW. "Regions formerly at war could finally benefit from real sports facilities." Greater opportunities in cities such as Goma, which lies near the border with Rwanda, would give young men a choice and a brighter future that involves kicking a ball and not picking up a gun or getting involved in crime. "Football can really help young men turn away from violence and adopt a healthier lifestyle through sport, especially in contexts marked by poverty, idleness, or social tensions," Mulonga added. "Playing football fosters the creation of strong social bonds between young people from different backgrounds. Football is a model of hope and ambition." Reaching the 2026 World Cup could be a game-changer. Even amid instability at home, DR Congo is top of its qualification group, with Senegal and Sudan close behind and just four games remaining. DR Congo faces those two teams on home soil later this year in what should be decisive clashes. "If the men's team qualifies, people will look more at Congo, to come and invest and help the kids," Ricardo Eluka, founder of Espoir Football Academy in Kinshasa, which he set up to help young people fulfil their dreams, told DW. There is enough natural ability in the country to shine and join continental teams that often appear at the big tournaments. "Congo has the same level of talent as the Nigerian team, Ghana and Senegal. We have these kinds of players but we don't have the money to come and invest," said Eluka. "If we had more money coming, football in Congo would be huge." More investment at grassroots, in facilities and in the clubs would help the country produce more players such as Chancel Mbemba who has appeared almost 100 times for the national team and played at prestigious European clubs such as Newcastle United, Porto and Marseille, as well as forward Cedric Bakambu. "Qualification for the World Cup would have a very positive and structuring impact on Congolese football on several levels: sporting, economic, social, and even political,' said Mulonga. "The DRC would benefit from global visibility, which could improve its diplomatic, cultural, and economic image. It could also facilitate the export of Congolese players to top-tier foreign clubs." The women have longer to go, however, and were eliminated from the WAFCON with a game left to play. Here the natural resources are just as great but the infrastructure and support, according to national team captain Fideline N'goy, is lacking. "There is great talent and a desire among young girls to play the sport, but there is no decent coaching to develop their talents: no training centers, no fields, and no projects from the federation," N'goy told DW. The goalkeeper contrasts the situation with Cameroon and Morocco where, she says, FIFA prize money goes back into the women's game and South Africa where the women are paid almost as much as the men. "In our country, the winners of the women's championship earn US $10,000 (€8500), while the men's earn US$150,000." It may be left for the women to do it themselves, to achieve international success in order to help those back at home. "If the women play well, we will have more female students," Eluka said. "The problem in Congo, there is no investment made, no facilities for the ladies to practice and get better." It remains to be seen how the men getting to the World Cup would help the women's game but it would certainly be celebrated in a country that has not had much to celebrate in recent years. "Football is almost a national religion in Congo," said Mitiga. "If it qualifies for the World Cup as it seems well-poised to do, it will really energize and electrify the nation and it will bring people together."
DW
6 days ago
- Sport
- DW
Potential peace and World Cup spot spark hope for DR Congo – DW – 07/10/2025
A new sense of hope is in the air the DR Congo is fueled by a recent peace deal and the impact of potentially qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. These are busy times for football in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The women's team are playing in the African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time since 2012 while the men are currently top of their qualification group for the 2026 World Cup, putting them on course for a first appearance on the global stage since 1974. Off the pitch, there is also encouraging news. If a peace deal that was signed in June between the country and neighboring Rwanda holds, the sport could reach new levels. The eastern region of the 11th biggest country in the world has been dogged by violence for the past 30 years, which has, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, resulted in the deaths of approximately six million people. Fighting escalated earlier this year as M23, a rebel paramilitary group that, according to the Congo and the United Nations, is backed by Rwanda, made inroads against the Congolese army. Details of the peace plan, brokered by the United States, may be currently vague with concerns over whether it can hold and the low levels of trust between the two parties, but the prospect of stability is a welcome one. "Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world," Murithi Mutiga, Africa Program Director at the International Crisis Group, told DW. "One hopes that eventually this [peace deal] will be implemented and with luck and also concerted diplomatic efforts, that Congo may reach its potential." If the fighting stops, football can continue all over the country. "In terms of the national game, a peace deal needs to be sorted because a number of the clubs that are based in the east of the country have not been able to play as a result of the recent conflict and invasion," Guy Burton, an international research analyst on conflict and peace, told DW. "Ultimately for the game to flourish, you need to have stability, you need to have peace. When war is happening, the priority is just to survive." Peace is just a start. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "Provided it is followed by concrete and sustainable implementation, the state and investors can better finance the rehabilitation of stadiums, community fields, and training centers," Francisco Mulonga, president of football club Sporting Club de Kinshasa, told DW. "Regions formerly at war could finally benefit from real sports facilities." Greater opportunities in cities such as Goma, which lies near the border with Rwanda, would give young men a choice and a brighter future that involves kicking a ball and not picking up a gun or getting involved in crime. "Football can really help young men turn away from violence and adopt a healthier lifestyle through sport, especially in contexts marked by poverty, idleness, or social tensions," Mulonga added. "Playing football fosters the creation of strong social bonds between young people from different backgrounds. Football is a model of hope and ambition." Reaching the 2026 World Cup could be a game-changer. Even amid instability at home, DR Congo is top of its qualification group, with Senegal and Sudan close behind and just four games remaining. DR Congo faces those two teams on home soil later this year in what should be decisive clashes. "If the men's team qualifies, people will look more at Congo, to come and invest and help the kids," Ricardo Eluka, founder of Espoir Football Academy in Kinshasa, which he set up to help young people fulfil their dreams, told DW. There is enough natural ability in the country to shine and join continental teams that often appear at the big tournaments. "Congo has the same level of talent as the Nigerian team, Ghana and Senegal. We have these kinds of players but we don't have the money to come and invest," said Eluka. "If we had more money coming, football in Congo would be huge." More investment at grassroots, in facilities and in the clubs would help the country produce more players such as Chancel Mbemba who has appeared almost 100 times for the national team and played at prestigious European clubs such as Newcastle United, Porto and Marseille, as well as forward Cedric Bakambu. "Qualification for the World Cup would have a very positive and structuring impact on Congolese football on several levels: sporting, economic, social, and even political,' said Mulonga. "The DRC would benefit from global visibility, which could improve its diplomatic, cultural, and economic image. It could also facilitate the export of Congolese players to top-tier foreign clubs." The women have longer to go, however, and were eliminated from the WAFCON with a game left to play. Here the natural resources are just as great but the infrastructure and support, according to national team captain Fideline N'goy, is lacking. "There is great talent and a desire among young girls to play the sport, but there is no decent coaching to develop their talents: no training centers, no fields, and no projects from the federation," N'goy told DW. The goalkeeper contrasts the situation with Cameroon and Morocco where, she says, FIFA prize money goes back into the women's game and South Africa where the women are paid almost as much as the men. "In our country, the winners of the women's championship earn US $10,000 (€8500), while the men's earn US$150,000." It may be left for the women to do it themselves, to achieve international success in order to help those back at home. "If the women play well, we will have more female students," Eluka said. "The problem in Congo, there is no investment made, no facilities for the ladies to practice and get better." It remains to be seen how the men getting to the World Cup would help the women's game but it would certainly be celebrated in a country that has not had much to celebrate in recent years. "Football is almost a national religion in Congo," said Mitiga. "If it qualifies for the World Cup as it seems well-poised to do, it will really energize and electrify the nation and it will bring people together."
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Could a rebellion in eastern Congo widen into a regional war?
The deadly march by Rwanda-backed rebels across eastern Congo could widen into a regional conflict drawing in even more countries, analysts warn, and the two nations most involved in the mineral-rich area might be the key to stopping the violence. The M23 rebels ' capture of the city of Goma last month and their reported advance on another provincial capital have drawn in concerned countries from east and southern Africa. A joint meeting of leaders from those regions over the weekend offered no strong proposals for ending the fighting beyond urging talks and an immediate ceasefire. Notably, they didn't call for the rebels to withdraw from Goma. At the summit's conclusion, Congo issued a statement welcoming its 'foundations for a collective approach' to securing peace. But there are concerns that long-shifting alliances in the region also could lead to a collective collapse. Asking neighbors for help Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi had sought the help of allies in the region and beyond when the M23 rebels resurfaced at the end of 2021. Troops from Burundi, with its own tense relations with Rwanda, were sent to fight alongside Congolese forces. Troops from Tanzania, which hosted the weekend summit, were deployed in Congo under the banner of a regional bloc. And Uganda, on poor terms with Rwanda, had already deployed hundreds of troops to fight a different rebel group in eastern Congo. For Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, it was 'like juggling a polygamous marriage' as he maneuvered to protect his vast country's territorial integrity, said Murithi Mutiga, Africa director at the International Crisis Group. 'Rwanda felt excluded while Burundi and Uganda were welcome' in eastern Congo, Mutiga said. 'Rwanda decided to assert itself.' A surge in fighting Congolese authorities see the M23 rebels as a Rwandan proxy army driven to illegally exploit eastern Congo's vast mineral resources, whose value is estimated in the trillions of dollars. The rebels are backed by some 4,000 troops from Rwanda, according to evidence collected by United Nations experts. The M23 rebellion stems partly from Rwanda's decades-long concern that other rebels — ethnic Hutus opposed to Rwanda's government and accused of participating in Rwanda's 1994 genocide — have been allowed to operate in largely lawless parts of eastern Congo. Rwanda's longtime President Paul Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of overlooking the concerns of Congo's ethnic Tutsis after hundreds of thousands of Tutsis were killed in the genocide. The M23's ranks contain many Congolese Tutsis. The rebels' next big target is Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, and they have vowed to go all the way to Kinshasa, Congo's capital, some 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away. Risk of more armed actors Eastern Congo in recent decades has been the setting for a conflict that has caused the highest death toll since World War II. Its last major regional upheaval broke out in 1998 as Congo's then-President Laurent Kabila invited forces from countries including Zimbabwe and Angola to protect him from Rwanda-backed rebels who sought to overthrow him. Uganda and Rwanda, which had helped Kabila seize power by force the previous year before feeling alienated by him, fought mostly on the same side. Now, analysts say both Rwanda and Uganda are key again. The risk of regional escalation this time is "big,' especially with both Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni still eager for influence in eastern Congo, said Godber Tumushabe, an analyst with the Kampala-based Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies think tank. Both leaders are crucial to any effort to stop the fighting, Tumushabe said: 'They will not allow a settlement' that doesn't look after their interests in eastern Congo. But they have their own friction as Rwanda suspects Uganda of backing yet another group of rebels opposed to Kagame. Burundi is also heavily involved. A year ago, Burundi closed border crossings with Rwanda and severed diplomatic ties over allegations that Rwanda's government was supporting rebels in eastern Congo who oppose Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye. By then, Burundian troops were deployed there to fight alongside Congolese troops. Ndayishimiye has accused Kagame of reckless warmongering. He told a gathering of diplomats in Bujumbura last month that 'if Rwanda continues to conquer the territory of another country, I know well that it will even arrive in Burundi.' He warned that the 'war will take a regional dimension.' Efforts at peace With Rwanda and Congo each "drawing a line in the sand,' diplomacy faces a great challenge, said Mutiga with the International Crisis Group. Efforts at peace have largely sputtered, including the yearslong presence of a U.N. peacekeeping force in eastern Congo that has been under Congolese government pressure to leave. Other fighters on the ground have included mercenaries for Congo, including many Romanians, and troops from the southern Africa regional bloc that Rwanda's president has alleged — without providing evidence — are not peacekeepers but collaborators with Congo's army. Congo's president has refused to engage with the M23. And he did not attend the weekend summit in Tanzania, instead monitoring it virtually. At its conclusion, his government welcomed the collective effort to stop the fighting but disputed Rwanda's attempted explanation for M23's resurgence. "The current crisis is, above all, an attack on (Congo's) sovereignty and security, and not an ethnic question,' Congo's statement said. The next steps in trying to resolve the conflict are unclear. ____ Associated Press writer Gaspard Maheburwa in Bujumbura, Burundi, contributed.
Washington Post
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Could a rebellion in eastern Congo widen into a regional war?
KAMPALA, Uganda — The deadly march by Rwanda-backed rebels across eastern Congo could widen into a regional conflict drawing in even more countries, analysts warn, and the two nations most involved in the mineral-rich area might be the key to stopping the violence. The M23 rebels ' capture of the city of Goma last month and their reported advance on another provincial capital have drawn in concerned countries from east and southern Africa. A joint meeting of leaders from those regions over the weekend offered no strong proposals for ending the fighting beyond urging talks and an immediate ceasefire. Notably, they didn't call for the rebels to withdraw from Goma. At the summit's conclusion, Congo issued a statement welcoming its 'foundations for a collective approach' to securing peace. But there are concerns that long-shifting alliances in the region also could lead to a collective collapse. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi had sought the help of allies in the region and beyond when the M23 rebels resurfaced at the end of 2021. Troops from Burundi, with its own tense relations with Rwanda, were sent to fight alongside Congolese forces. Troops from Tanzania, which hosted the weekend summit, were deployed in Congo under the banner of a regional bloc. And Uganda, on poor terms with Rwanda, had already deployed hundreds of troops to fight a different rebel group in eastern Congo. For Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, it was 'like juggling a polygamous marriage' as he maneuvered to protect his vast country's territorial integrity, said Murithi Mutiga, Africa director at the International Crisis Group. 'Rwanda felt excluded while Burundi and Uganda were welcome' in eastern Congo, Mutiga said. 'Rwanda decided to assert itself.' Congolese authorities see the M23 rebels as a Rwandan proxy army driven to illegally exploit eastern Congo's vast mineral resources, whose value is estimated in the trillions of dollars. The rebels are backed by some 4,000 troops from Rwanda, according to evidence collected by United Nations experts. The M23 rebellion stems partly from Rwanda's decades-long concern that other rebels — ethnic Hutus opposed to Rwanda's government and accused of participating in Rwanda's 1994 genocide — have been allowed to operate in largely lawless parts of eastern Congo. Rwanda's longtime President Paul Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of overlooking the concerns of Congo's ethnic Tutsis after hundreds of thousands of Tutsis were killed in the genocide. The M23's ranks contain many Congolese Tutsis. The rebels' next big target is Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, and they have vowed to go all the way to Kinshasa, Congo's capital, some 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away. Eastern Congo in recent decades has been the setting for a conflict that has caused the highest death toll since World War II. Its last major regional upheaval broke out in 1998 as Congo's then-President Laurent Kabila invited forces from countries including Zimbabwe and Angola to protect him from Rwanda-backed rebels who sought to overthrow him. Uganda and Rwanda, which had helped Kabila seize power by force the previous year before feeling alienated by him, fought mostly on the same side. Now, analysts say both Rwanda and Uganda are key again. The risk of regional escalation this time is 'big,' especially with both Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni still eager for influence in eastern Congo, said Godber Tumushabe, an analyst with the Kampala-based Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies think tank. Both leaders are crucial to any effort to stop the fighting, Tumushabe said: 'They will not allow a settlement' that doesn't look after their interests in eastern Congo. But they have their own friction as Rwanda suspects Uganda of backing yet another group of rebels opposed to Kagame. Burundi is also heavily involved. A year ago, Burundi closed border crossings with Rwanda and severed diplomatic ties over allegations that Rwanda's government was supporting rebels in eastern Congo who oppose Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye. By then, Burundian troops were deployed there to fight alongside Congolese troops. Ndayishimiye has accused Kagame of reckless warmongering. He told a gathering of diplomats in Bujumbura last month that 'if Rwanda continues to conquer the territory of another country, I know well that it will even arrive in Burundi.' He warned that the 'war will take a regional dimension.' With Rwanda and Congo each 'drawing a line in the sand,' diplomacy faces a great challenge, said Mutiga with the International Crisis Group. Efforts at peace have largely sputtered, including the yearslong presence of a U.N. peacekeeping force in eastern Congo that has been under Congolese government pressure to leave. Other fighters on the ground have included mercenaries for Congo, including many Romanians, and troops from the southern Africa regional bloc that Rwanda's president has alleged — without providing evidence — are not peacekeepers but collaborators with Congo's army. Congo's president has refused to engage with the M23. And he did not attend the weekend summit in Tanzania, instead monitoring it virtually. At its conclusion, his government welcomed the collective effort to stop the fighting but disputed Rwanda's attempted explanation for M23's resurgence. 'The current crisis is, above all, an attack on (Congo's) sovereignty and security, and not an ethnic question,' Congo's statement said. The next steps in trying to resolve the conflict are unclear. ____ Associated Press writer Gaspard Maheburwa in Bujumbura, Burundi, contributed.
Al Arabiya
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Could a rebellion in eastern Congo widen into a regional war?
The deadly march by Rwanda-backed rebels across eastern Congo could widen into a regional conflict, drawing in even more countries, analysts warn, and the two nations most involved in the mineral-rich area might be the key to stopping the violence. The M23 rebels' capture of the city of Goma last month and their reported advance on another provincial capital have drawn in concerned countries from east and southern Africa. A joint meeting of leaders from those regions over the weekend offered no strong proposals for ending the fighting beyond urging talks and an immediate cease-fire. Notably, they didn't call for the rebels to withdraw from Goma. At the summit's conclusion, Congo issued a statement welcoming its foundations for a collective approach to securing peace. But there are concerns that long-shifting alliances in the region also could lead to a collective collapse. Asking neighbors for help, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi had sought the help of allies in the region and beyond when the M23 rebels resurfaced at the end of 2021. Troops from Burundi, with its own tense relations with Rwanda, were sent to fight alongside Congolese forces. Troops from Tanzania, which hosted the weekend summit, were deployed in Congo under the banner of a regional bloc. And Uganda, on poor terms with Rwanda, had already deployed hundreds of troops to fight a different rebel group in eastern Congo. 'For Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, it was like juggling a polygamous marriage as he maneuvered to protect his vast country's territorial integrity,' said Murithi Mutiga, Africa director at the International Crisis Group. 'Rwanda felt excluded while Burundi and Uganda were welcome in eastern Congo,' Mutiga said. 'Rwanda decided to assert itself.' A surge in fighting. Congolese authorities see the M23 rebels as a Rwandan proxy army driven to illegally exploit eastern Congo's vast mineral resources, whose value is estimated in the trillions of dollars. The rebels are backed by some 4,000 troops from Rwanda, according to evidence collected by UN experts. The M23 rebellion stems partly from Rwanda's decades-long concern that other rebels–ethnic Hutus opposed to Rwanda's government and accused of participating in Rwanda's 1994 genocide–have been allowed to operate in largely lawless parts of eastern Congo. Rwanda's longtime President Paul Kagame accuses Tshisekedi of overlooking the concerns of Congo's ethnic Tutsis after hundreds of thousands of Tutsis were killed in the genocide. The M23's ranks contain many Congolese Tutsis. The rebels' next big target is Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province, and they have vowed to go all the way to Kinshasa, Congo's capital, some 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away. Risk of more armed actors. Eastern Congo in recent decades has been the setting for a conflict that has caused the highest death toll since World War II. Its last major regional upheaval broke out in 1998 as Congo's then-President Laurent Kabila invited forces from countries including Zimbabwe and Angola to protect him from Rwanda-backed rebels who sought to overthrow him. Uganda and Rwanda, which had helped Kabila seize power by force the previous year before feeling alienated by him, fought mostly on the same side. Now analysts say both Rwanda and Uganda are key again. 'The risk of regional escalation this time is big, especially with both Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni still eager for influence in eastern Congo,' said Godber Tumushabe, an analyst with the Kampala-based Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies think tank. 'Both leaders are crucial to any effort to stop the fighting,' Tumushabe said. 'They will not allow a settlement that doesn't look after their interests in eastern Congo.' But they have their own friction as Rwanda suspects Uganda of backing yet another group of rebels opposed to Kagame. Burundi is also heavily involved. A year ago, Burundi closed border crossings with Rwanda and severed diplomatic ties over allegations that Rwanda's government was supporting rebels in eastern Congo who oppose Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye. By then Burundian troops were deployed there to fight alongside Congolese troops. Ndayishimiye has accused Kagame of reckless warmongering. He told a gathering of diplomats in Bujumbura last month that 'if Rwanda continues to conquer the territory of another country, I know well that it will even arrive in Burundi.' He warned that the war will take a regional dimension. Efforts at peace. 'With Rwanda and Congo each drawing a line in the sand, diplomacy faces a great challenge,' said Mutiga with the International Crisis Group. Efforts at peace have largely sputtered, including the yearslong presence of a UN peacekeeping force in eastern Congo that has been under Congolese government pressure to leave. Other fighters on the ground have included mercenaries for Congo, including many Romanians, and troops from the southern Africa regional bloc that Rwanda's president has alleged–without providing evidence–are not peacekeepers but collaborators with Congo's army. Congo's president has refused to engage with the M23. And he did not attend the weekend summit in Tanzania, instead monitoring it virtually. At its conclusion, his government welcomed the collective effort to stop the fighting but disputed Rwanda's attempted explanation for M23's resurgence. 'The current crisis is above all an attack on (Congo's) sovereignty and security and not an ethnic question,' Congo's statement said. The next steps in trying to resolve the conflict are unclear.
