"He noted that dozens of armed groups fighting over complex issues have killed more than 5 million people in the past two decades in the region". 5 million people! That number is huge, but we do finally have a step in the right direction. The rebel group, M23, declared their disarm on Tuesday November 5th, 2013. The leader Bertrand Bisimwa announced this via Facebook after having talks with the Congolese Government in Uganda. The group says "it would immediately end its rebellion and pursue, by purely political means, a search for solutions to the profound issues that led to its creation." The Congolese government says that it is trying to find out whether this announcement is valid. However if this is true then it will be huge. The M23 is one of the largest rebel groups in the Congo. On a more shocking note, the Government says that it believes most of people of this group will be able to reintegrate back into normal life in the Congo. This last statement is shocking, a group responsible for so much death and destruction, and only members who committed war crimes or crimes against humanity will not be given amnesty. Every member of this group has committed war crimes or is responsible for slavery, death, and abuse. I'm glad to see this group giving up but I would like to see heavier sanctions put on them, even death. I truly believe that an eye for an eye is the only way people will understand their actions. By allowing these citizens to reintegrate will only allow for formations of more rebellious groups. The members say they were wronged by the government. While there have been no changes in the Congolese government I believe there will be no changes in certain members of these groups. I'm disappointed in the actions taken but I am excited to see groups giving up their power for the sake of humanity.
Staff, CNN. "Rebel Group to Disarm in Democratic Republic of Congo." CNN. Cable News Network, 05 Nov. 2013. Web. 07 Nov. 2013.
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