๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐จ
๐Before the M23 rebels captured Goma, the city became heavily militarized under President Tshisekediโs government. It housed significant numbers of combat troops, reportedly around 60,000 fighters, along with large quantities of heavy weapons. This concentration of military forces in the area raised suspicions of an imminent military operation.
๐Goma was transformed into a point of convergence for multiple armed forces, including the FARDC, Burundian forces, SADC troops, European mercenaries, UN peacekeepers, and the genocidal FDLR militia. This coordination signaled a major military presence near Rwandaโs border.
๐Large quantities of military equipment seized by M23 during their offensive, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, fighter aircraft, and artillery were captured. These weapons, many of them in working order, indicated the magnitude of the Congolese military presence and raised concerns that they were intended for offensive operations.
๐One of the most significant pieces of weaponry found was the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, capable of striking targets as far as 40km away. Its presence at Goma airport raised concerns about DR Congoโs ability to launch devastating attacks across the border into #Rwanda๐ท๐ผ.
๐The discovery of 122mm RM-70 rocket launchers and 122mm D-30 howitzers further illustrated the scale of military preparedness. These weapons could cover vast areas with explosive firepower, showing an intent to cause large-scale destruction.
๐M23 captured several Katyusha multiple rocket launchers, which are known for their devastating area-effect firepower. These weapons, with a range of up to 80km, indicated that DR Congo had equipped itself with long-range artillery for potential strikes on Rwanda.
๐The discovery of several 37mm and 20mm anti-aircraft guns, along with thousands of shells, suggested that DR Congo had prepared to challenge Rwandaโs air defenses. This could be a sign of an air campaign targeting military or civilian infrastructure in Rwanda.
๐Large stockpiles of guided 120mm mortars, anti-tank weapons, and other artillery pieces were found in the armory. These weapons could potentially be used for a coordinated ground assault on Rwanda, targeting military positions and infrastructure.
๐Abandoned fighter jets, including a Russian-made Suhkoi-25, along with military helicopters, were seized by M23. This pointed to DR Congo's advanced air capabilities, suggesting a potential air campaign against Rwanda.
๐M23 also captured kamikaze drones and reconnaissance drones in Mubambiro. These UAVs could be used for precision strikes against high-value targets, indicating DR Congoโs preparedness for a modern, high-tech warfare campaign.
๐The retreating forces, including FARDC and their allies, left behind significant quantities of modern weaponry. This retreat suggests that the Congolese forces had been defeated but also highlights the scale of military buildup and potential plans for future engagements.
๐The involvement of the FDLR, a militia with ties to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in the military coalition near Rwandaโs border raised alarms. The FDLRโs presence indicated DR Congoโs willingness to engage with genocidal forces to destabilize Rwanda.
๐Tshisekediโs public statements, including threats to bring about regime change in Rwanda, were alarming. His assertion that he could achieve this without stepping on Rwandan soil suggested that military action was a possibility, further corroborated by the buildup in Goma.
๐Rwanda repeatedly accused DR Congo of violating its airspace and firing shells across the border. These actions, coupled with the extensive buildup of military forces, raised fears that DR Congo was preparing for a direct confrontation with Rwanda.
๐The discovery of thousands of shells, machine guns, and ammunition containers, including RPGs and sniper rifles, indicated that DR Congo had equipped its forces with a broad range of weapons, many of which were designed for long-range combat.
๐The presence of European mercenaries in Goma, alongside government forces, raised concerns about external intervention. The support from foreign fighters may have been part of a broader strategy to prepare for a potential invasion of Rwanda.
๐DR Congo had invested billions of dollars into acquiring military technology and hardware, and according to analysts, this was not merely a response to M23 rebels but a preparation for broader conflict, potentially aimed at Rwanda.
๐The M23 rebels seized a significant amount of artillery and military hardware from strategic locations like Goma airport, Mubambiro, and other key military installations. The scale of this seizure indicated that DR Congo had heavily fortified these locations, presumably for an attack on Rwanda.
๐When M23 rebels took advantage of strategic locations around Goma and other areas, forcing DR Congoโs military to retreat, it suggested that DR Congo's forces had initially been prepared to launch a major offensive but were caught off guard by the rebels' movements.
๐A retired Colonel's statement further reinforced the claim that the vast array of weaponry in Goma was not meant for fighting small rebel groups like M23 but was assembled with the intent of launching an invasion of Rwanda. This reflects the broader intentions of DR Congo's government to confront Rwanda militarily, with the massive military buildup serving as a precursor to such an invasion.
๐This evidence paints a clear picture of DR Congoโs preparation for a possible large-scale military operation against Rwanda, backed by a coalition of forces, heavy weaponry, and advanced military technology.
"It was no more and no less than a moral imperative."
Dr. Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, is this year's #NansenAward winner for protecting refugees at the height of the conflict in Syria.
https://t.co/x9kffCw0Rw - via @refugees
Umugaba Mukuru wโIngabo zโu Rwanda, Gen Jean Bosco Kazura avuga ko ibiganiro byahuje inzego z'umutekano z'u Rwanda na Mozambique wari umwanya wo gusuzuma ibimaze kugerwaho mu Ntara ya Cabo Delgado no gufata ingamba zโibindi bizakorwa mu gihe kiri imbere.
โก๏ธhttps://t.co/9UEQ0jY20k