Rwanda-Congo deja vu?

By Jason Straziuso

Published November 20, 2012 5:00am ET

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Rwanda-Congo deja vu? — A Congolese soldier at the last Congolese army check point in Munigi where fighting between the M23 and the Congolese army has been taking place in the past days near Goma, Congo, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. Rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda fired mortars and machine guns Monday in a village on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Goma and threatened to attack the city which is protected by ragtag Congolese government troops backed by United Nations peacekeepers. The gunfire and explosions erupted in the early afternoon, hours after the M23 rebels said they were halting fighting in order to negotiate with the government of Congo. (AP Photo/Melanie Gouby) | Melanie Gouby

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — History is repeating itself yet again in eastern Congo. Rebels supported by Rwanda are on the march. Civilians are fleeing. And higher powers appear to be taking sides.

Congo and Rwanda have been at this stage before. First in 1996, then in 1998. Also in 2004 and 2008. The first two conflicts had their roots in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, but now the fighting is mostly over mineral wealth — including minerals used in the world’s smart phones and laptops.

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