
RDC: Presidence de la Republique – Cabinet du Chef de l’Etat – Communique de la Cellule de Communication de la Presidence (03.10.2024)



“In North Kivu, the consolidation of the M23’s administrative control over the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru has allowed it to take total control of coltan production. Trade in the Rubaya region, which is said to supply more than 15% of the world’s tantalum production, brings in around USD 300,000 per month to the armed group. This situation is very worrying and must be stopped” (…) “The criminal laundering of natural resources of the DRC smuggled out of the country strengthens armed groups, maintains the exploitation of civilian populations, some of whom are reduced to de facto slavery, and undermines peace-building efforts. Unless international sanctions are imposed on those who profit from this criminal trade, peace will remain elusive and civilians will continue to suffer” – Bintou Keita, Head of the MONUSCO (01.10.2024).
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) or the March 23 Mouvement (M23) are now in control of vital mineral resource and the extraction of it in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC and the FARDC is losing out because of all it. The Kinshasa regime is losing vital taxes and possible revenue by the collection of funds that is in the hands of the M23.
This here is a loss of not only the captured areas and where the M23 resides on a daily basis. The loss of lives, the burden of production and how they operate to extract the minerals from the region. However, this here is a proof of “blood diamonds” or conflict “minerals” which is enlarging the pockets of rebellion and militias within the DRC. This here gives leverage and wealth to the commanders who are in charge and the ones that is funding the operation as well.
For years there been reports of the illicit trade of mineral resources from the region. The routes of the conflict minerals have been going across to Rwanda and Uganda. Those who are also claimed to behind the M23 to begin with. Therefore, nothing here is surprising, but it shows how profitable the conflict and the usage of militia warfare is in the region.
What the Head of MONUSCO Bintou Keita is saying is relevant, but also stating to what extent it is. The UN Experts Reports has over the years explicitly stated the way the minerals are exported and who operates within the spectrum. Now it is coming to light and how vastly the M23 is earning on it. They have a “gold” mine in their hands and can easily access funds to pursuit the mission of “annexing territories” and continue the fight against the FARDC or their allies.
The concern here is that this won’t affect or stop the illicit trade in general. As the mineral are exported and sold into the multi-national businesses that uses it. They are generating massive wealth of the extraction of the mineral resources and the M23 can continue to operate with loads of cash-flow into their operation. Therefore, the trade of Coltan becomes not only a question of cost-benefit, but it becomes problematic regarding the usage of it. This is supporting a rebel and a militia to be able to earn profits in the lines of electronics or electronic vehicles for that matter.
This here should hit the headlines worldwide, but I know it is lucky if it goes into the bulletins or a page 7 story, which is caught in between ads and ignored stories from the world. That’s where this will end… and Kinshasa government will not get the help or the manpower to be able to takeover their own territories or even cease the export of coltan from the DRC. Peace.








“A military court in Kinshasa has handed down the death penalty to former electoral commission boss Corneille Nangaa and more than two dozen other members of the rebel group, Alliance Fleuve Congo or Congo River Alliance (AFC).The Congolese court adopted a rarely used weapon to tame a group associated with the M23 rebels, who were declared a terrorist organisation. Leaders of the M23, Sultani Makenga and Bertrand Bisimwa and their spokesmen Willy Ngoma and Lawrence Kanyuka, are in the same boat” (Capital FM Uganda, 09.08.2024).
“When a power becomes afraid, it is because it sees its fall coming. And its fall is this parody of a trial, followed by obsequious condemnations. It is the expression of the fear of a regime at bay, and which sees its decline coming. These sentences only bind and concern those who pronounced them. They will be obliged, after release, to return to them and ask for forgiveness for having carried out a manifestly illegal order, intended to please a autocrate crook, sick and charlatan to boot” (Corneille Nangaa, 08.08.2024).
Today we are getting the news that Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and Mouvement du Mars 23 (M23) leaders have been sentenced to death by a military court in Kinshasa. Their armed rebellion and usage of militia activities within the Republic have caused this. They are parts of armed rebellion against the state and is directly challenging the Republic’s own army in parts of the Republic. Which is reasonable to target and sanction, to give the leaders a punitive action and act within the rule of law. Therefore, this sort of sentencing on them isn’t shocking, but is a sign of the will of the state.
A state that hasn’t had the will or the power to do so. Now they are addressing the insurgency and the militias within the Republic. It is targeting the M23/AFC or the AFC/M23 which seems inter-connected. They seem like an entity and the leadership there can be questioned. As they are targeting a region and province of the DRC.
M23 are a threat in the Nord-Kivu Province. That is common knowledge and AFC is a vehicle of just that. The fall of Nangaa is clear too, as he was a respected fellow and a man who had the authority of the electoral commission of the DRC. He was the man that announced the victory of President Felix Tshisekedi in 2019. Now, his sentenced by the court to death. That is significant and shows what is possible in the DRC.
Nangaa has to answer for his choices and why he took part of the AFC. The avenues was maybe closed and he knew he wouldn’t have any favours with the allies of Tshisekedi, as he was a man that had entrusted this role by former President Joseph Kabila. Therefore, he was a relic and a man of the wrong administration.
Still, it is risky to associate yourself with an armed rebellion and militia’s within a Republic. That could easily be seen as treason and be seen as a criminal act against the state. This isn’t anything new for the M23, but for the AFC it is. Others has been here before and won’t be last, as long as there are mineral resources to loot and lacking structures to control the territories. Which gives breading ground for rebellion and armed militias to control mineral rich regions. That’s where these comes in and make a business out of it. Since the army isn’t capable or have the manpower to enforce rule of law. Therefore, in the vacuum of the state, these militias and armed rebellions comes in and takeover from the state.
That isn’t done without a risk and they are only allowed to do so. If they serve the interests of the current leadership and President. If the militias or armed groups has association with the government. They could get away with their crimes and profiteering on the extraction of minerals within their zones or occupied areas.
That’s why we know this will not stop the M23 or the AFC from operating. They are now seen as illegal entities and are a danger to society. This it should have been seen from the onset and from how they have used lethal force to have a say. Not only for the association with foreign entities and logistical support as such. Which has been reported and been known, especially for the M23. We shouldn’t be shocked if the AFC are the same or in the same boat. They are working for the same thing and trying to evolve the same beast. Therefore, the state is within it’s rights to address it.
The Military Court has only reacted within its realm and within its mandate. The ones charged and getting on trial should answer for it. It is only righteous… and for a greater cause. Some might say this is to consolidate or control more power in the eyes of the President. Well, the M23 and AFC isn’t Sunday School Choirs or Bible Salesmen, but an armed opposition against the state. That’s why the state is within it’s right to sanction it. Peace.

