Learning to live with rebels in Goma

M23 rebels on patrol in Goma.

After the shooting stopped in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, residents are learning to live with rebels.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) GOMA RESIDENT, JOHN AMANI, SAYING:

"It is very sad that the government let this town fall into the rebel's hands, but we hope it will come back to normal soon. Even though we have to live with the rebels now, we are still very hopeful. We will continue to lead our lives because we really have no choice but we hope things will be alright."

As rebels mount the most serious threat to the government in years, a parallel struggle looms over whether M23 is, as it represents itself, a truly home-grown protest movement, or is a foreign invasion by Rwanda keen to control the remote region's minerals.