#207: Rebel Groups & Conflicted Regions

Imp. pointers for #UPSCPrelims2024

2022 & 2023 had 10+ Qs on Africa; find analysis here

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8 rebel groups & conflicted regions w/ maps👇🏻🧵

• Kurds & Al-Shabaab

• Houthis & Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23)

• Israel-Palestine & Myanmar

• Tigray & Darfur region

1. Kurds

• In news: Mahsa Amini (a Kurdish woman) killed by Iran

• Largest stateless ethnic group in mapped countries

• This place is so-called Kurdistan by them

• History: Kurds promised state in Treaty of Sevres 1920

(This promise stays inconclusive even 100+ years later)

2. Al-Shabaab

• In news: US & Somalian strikes on its bases

• An al-Qaeda affiliate 'operating' in following regions

• Objective: Impose Wahabi Islam in its area of control

• History: Began as extremist youth wing of now defunct Islamic Courts Union

follow @CSEWhy PYQs notes

3. Houthis

• In news: Attacking commercials vessels in the Red Sea

• Iran backed Yemeni rebels controlling west & NW Yemeni territory

• History: Roots in ''Believing Youth", a Zaidi Shia revivalist group of early 90s

4. Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23)

• In news: Rwanda backed rebels behind massive internal displacement & unrest in DRC

• M23: Tutsi-led group in eastern regions of DRC (bordering Rwanda)

• History:

a) 1994 Rwandan genocide

b) Hutu extremists massacred 1m+ minority of ethnic Tutsis & Hutu non-extremists

DRC = Democratic Republic of Congo

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5. Hamas

• In news: Ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

• A Palestinian political armed group (Gaza + W. Bank)

• History: Started as a resistance movement against Israel in 1987

6. Myanmar Junta

• Military coup of 2021 sparked chaos

• Military's genocidal actions against the civilians

• Illicit substance trade funds exacerbated the situation

• Note: Myanmar is part of Golden Triangle of the drugs trade

follow @CSEWhy Twitter

7. Tigray region

• Tigray People's Liberation Front forces stand armed

• Eritrea's pre-emptive measures reflect conflict trajectory

• Ethiopia's quest to access sea could lead to conflict at a scale

8. Darfur Crisis

• Conflict b/w Army & Paramilitary leaving space for Darfur rebels

• Darfur sees grazing right conflict b/w nomadic Arabs & Tribal Africans

• Govt. launched genocide against tribals igniting tribal militias

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