logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
22m 6s

Rwanda, M23, and the battle for DR Congo...

Al Jazeera
About this episode

Bodies are lining the streets of Goma, and hospitals are overwhelmed after an escalation in the long-simmering conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Rwandan-backed M23 group claims it took control of the city, and the DRC has called it a declaration of war by Rwanda. But why is Rwanda involved and what are its interests?

In this episode:

  • Kambale Musavuli (@kambale), Analyst, Center for Research on the Congo

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra, Sonia Bhagat, and Chloe K. Li with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Hagir Saleh, Hanah Shokeir, Melanie Marich, Noor Wazwaz and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, FacebookThreads and YouTube

Up next
Today
Inside the rise of sports betting in the United States
<p>Sports used to be about the game. Now, for millions of fans, it&rsquo;s about the bet<strong data-stringify-type="bold">. A 2018&nbsp;</strong>Supreme Court decision turned sports into a multibillion-dollar machine &mdash; one that&rsquo;s&nbsp;<strong data-stringify-type="bol ... Show More
24m 9s
Yesterday
Brief: Israel kills at least 24 in Gaza, increases Syria operations
<p>This week: 46 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 342 Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian factions in Gaza said they would reject an international force there. Israel killed at least 14 people in Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 69,733 Palestinians in Gaza sinc ... Show More
5m 38s
Nov 22
Another Take: How Sheikh Hasina transformed Bangladesh
<p><strong>Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on September 1, 2024. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed.</strong></p> <p>Sheikh Hasina has won a fourth straight term as Bangladesh&rsquo;s prime m ... Show More
17m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Chaos in Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is at war. Again. Sixty-five years of mismanagement began with a CIA assassination plot that condemned millions of Congolese to unending conflict. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard ... Show More
25m 51s
Apr 2025
What does the former president's return mean for Congo?
A controversial return. Former Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila is back home after a self-imposed exile. The government accuses Kabila of backing the M23 rebels who have seized large areas in eastern DRC. So, what does Kabila's return mean for the fragile secu ... Show More
22m 34s
May 2025
Unrest in Sweida (E2)
Leila is joined by two Sweida-based activists, Khuzama and Ian from the Interstices-Fajawat grassroots initiative, to talk about the recent unrest in Syria in which members of the Druze community were targeted. In the first part, they got into what happened, the fault lines, the ... Show More
50m 5s
Aug 21
36 July: Uprising in Bangladesh | Ep. 3 - Point of No Return
Abu Sayed’s death super charges the uprising and Sheikh Hasina is determined to put a stop to it. In this episode, we’ll hear Hasina, on exclusively obtained recordings, authorizing deadly force. As the situation worsens she makes two fateful decisions. She calls the Army in and ... Show More
43m 11s
Jul 2025
Syria's Islamized Armenians w/ Karena Avedissian (E5)
Leila is joined by Armenian writer, scholar and member of From The Periphery media collective, Dr Karena Avedissian. Karena recently returned from a trip to conduct research and build ties with the Armenian community in Northeast Syria. We spoke about an article she wrote - Armen ... Show More
48m 34s
Sep 23
US deportees to sue Ghana's government
A group of deportees from the US have sued the Ghanaian government, alleging they've been detained illegally. We talk to the lawyer representing these deportees and ask what legal framework underpins this US-Ghana deportation deal? And how does this situation tests the principles ... Show More
35m 56s
Sep 2024
France finally gets a new PM
<p>President Emmanuel Macron has named the EU’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s next prime minister. Plus, Europe’s sustainable investment funds double down on defence stocks, and Ukraine ​President Volodymyr Zelenskyy carries out his biggest wartime cabinet r ... Show More
11m 55s
Oct 8
Unrest in Sweida Part 2 w/ Interstices-Fajawat (E6)
Khuzama and Cedric from the Interstices-Fajawat grassroots initiative return to STIR to talk to Leila about the July unrest in Sweida province, which included massacres against members of the Druze community. Our guests were in Sweida during the unrest, so share their moving firs ... Show More
49m 39s
Sep 18
Kash Patel is posting through it
The FBI director's handling of the Kirk assassination proves knowing the ropes isn't as important as being the president's bestie. This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Ad ... Show More
26m 19s
Aug 18
Last push to pause Gaza war, and Al Shara meets Syrian Christian leader
Mediators are making one last push to pause the fighting in Gaza. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has met one of the country’s senior Christian leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to travel to Washington today. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: Media ... Show More
5m 39s