Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched

• These regions are located in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The conflict in the DRC dates back to the 1990s, following the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Ethnic tensions from the genocide spilled over into the DRC, leading to two civil wars in 1996 and 1998. The eastern DRC has since been plagued by violence and insurgency involving various rebel groups. The eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika are home to over 120 insurgent groups, including the prominent Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23), Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and the Cooperative for Development of the Congo (CODECO). These groups engage in violence over territory, natural resources, and ethnic rivalries. The ongoing violence has resulted in the displacement of millions. Ethnic intolerance, insurgency, and political instability have contributed to widespread displacement, with many people fleeing the violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by various armed groups.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched

• Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus mountainous region.
• Historically, the majority population of this region has been ethnically Armenian (Christian-majority).
• In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan (Muslim-majority).
• No country, not even Armenia, has so far recognised the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Turkey and Pakistan openly support Azerbaijan.
• Russia has military bases in Armenia.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched

• In September 2022, Russia conducted the referendums to annex four Russia occupied Ukraine provinces — Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Hard