Opinion: The beast of Kagame and Museveni haunts Nord-Kivu province to this day

The Mouvement du Mars 23 (M23) re-insurgency this year is now hurting the province of Nord Kivu. In such a manner, that Kinshasa is calling Kigali and ensuring the allies of M23 is getting into hot-water. Therefore, the way of things are going. Sooner or later the President of the Republic would need to either cease communications with the neighbours or hold direct dialogue with them.

That means that President Felix Tshisekedi has to decide if he wants to talk to Rwandan President Paul Kagame or Ugandan President Yoweri Tibuhurwa Kaguta Museveni. Because, the M23 is a beast of the past, which is revived now and then. Former President Joseph Kabila did that when he needed insurgency to block elections and stop opportunities for “peace”. While siphoning the funds of the military operations into their own pockets in Kinshasa. So, people can move the argument of the sudden rise of M23 of late to either thing really.

We know that the M23 historically has ties to Kigali and Kampala. To say otherwise is a lie. Both parties and governments has been connected to them. Rwandan and Ugandan sponsored proxy-militias within the Kivu Provinces isn’t anything new either. There been plenty of outfits and warlords who has sufficiently been trained and armed by the comrades in Kigali or Kampala.

So, we know that Kagame and Museveni knows the game. They have been here for decades and has vast knowledge of warfare within the DRC. Their respective armies and proxies has fought within the DRC since the 1990s. They went to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko and never really left… they just changed names and found means to profit of the plight, suffering and mass-death of the region. That’s what they have done and the blood is on their names.

That’s why when the likes of M23 resurfaces and the questions of whose behind it comes at once. This is because of the past aggressions and interference in DRC’s internal affairs. The M23 is just the most amplified and the militia that is hitting the news. There is plenty of Maï-Maï, FDLR and other outfits, which are sponsored and helped from across the borders. Which also inflict damage, pain and suffering in the Kivu provinces. Therefore, the knowledge of this… is well known and these sorts of things are now coming home to roost.

Kagame and Museveni has had their hands into it. They have enjoyed the perks and the spoils of the insurgencies in the DRC. The DRC has been a profitable enterprise and the illegal exploits has earned them vast Forex-Exchange and capital. It has been a way of creating industries and all jack-of-trades, which minerals and other resources that has given them an edge. While their armies has ensured training, arms and possibly recruits within their territories. That is something that has occurred and is still prevalent to this day.

M23 could be sponsored directly by Kigali these days. M23 could be sponsored by Kampala these days. That is just a mere option and no one would bat an eye over this. The former UN Experts Reports and the origin says enough. The way both parties has accepted previous combatants and cantonment within their borders. That’s why when they resurface and causes new insurgencies. You know they are involved and allowed it to happen somehow. Because, they just don’t dip out across the border and start fighting out of nowhere. Neither does they have ammunition and weapons to do that as well. Especially, when they were supposed to be peaceful and leave their rebellious ways. However, that was just buying time and awaiting their operation within the DRC.

That’s why the ghosts, the beasts of old is returning. This is why the eyes are turning towards Kigali and Kampala as the deaths and internally displaced people’s are on the rise. The endless conflict, which are inserted and supported from afar is very evident. The bullets and skirmishes continues too. While the region suffers as a consequence. The big-men are playing war-games and the civilians are forced in the middle. That’s the sinister plot of all of this. The big-men are playing and issuing their next meal. While the public are either living in fear, uncertainty or in refugee. As their homes, villages and territories are violated by a militia, yet again. A militia that has foreign backers and big-bank to fund their bloodshed. All done for the power of money and possible resources, which they cannot have access at back-home. Peace.

RDC: Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) – The M23 Movement Response to the decisions of the DRC High Defence Council (29.05.2022)

RDC: Province du Nord-Kivu – Communication sur l’Arrestatinon de deux Militaires des Forces de Defense du Rwanda en Republique Democratique du Congo (28.05.2022)

RDC: International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) – Press Release on the Situation of the Eastern DRC (27.05.2022)

DRC: The FARDC has promised to be the end of M23

The lines of Rubicon has clearly been drawn of late. The tiredness of the endless foreign supported militias who takes territories and enriches the ring-leaders of them. That has been going on for decades in Nord-Kivu. Now, after the latest insurgency of the Mouvement du Mars 23 (M23). The DRC government and Province of Nord-Kivu has now issued strong warnings to the henchmen, handlers and the ones directly in the M23 militia. They are now in the line of fire and at some point the army will end their time on the soil. Unless, they retreat to pastures again across the borders like they did after the Nairobi Peace Process.

That’s why today’s news from the authorities and the army of the DRC is important. As the statement of calling the M23 a terrorist organization. This is signifying the intentions and the aims of the militia. The backers of the organizations should know that it’s targeted now and isn’t on friendly terms anymore. The amounts of vicious killings and massacres to takeover territory is over. The FARDC and Kinshasa is ready to hunt them down now. They are becoming a nuisance and a troublemaker in Nord-Kivu province. That’s why they are addressing it like this.

Just read the reports from earlier today!

He also invited the Congolese to mobilize behind the FARDC to put an end to the M23 rebels.

“It is up to the government to organize, as soon as possible, throughout the national territory, a large march of popular mobilization, solidarity with our FARDC, protest and warning against Rwanda and its allies”, recommended Augustin Bisimwa. Furthermore, he asked the Congolese population not to give in to manipulation and to remain vigilant and mobilized as one man in unity in the face of the threat from the M23 rebels” (Radio Okapi – ‘North Kivu: a platform pleads for the reinforcement of the FARDC engaged on the front lines’ 29.05.2022).

Lieutenant General Constant Ndima made this communication while clashes opposed the Congolese army to the rebels of the M23, in the territories of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo. “The military governor calls on everyone to exercise restraint. The FARDC assure the population that no millimetre of the national territory of the DRC will remain in the hands of anyone,” said the governor’s spokesman, General Sylvain Ekenge. However, he denounces calls for violence and revenge that have been observed for some time. On the other hand, this FARDC officer also invited everyone ” to keep an eye out and denounce any suspicious presence to the FARDC, the PNC, and the specialized services… “” (Radio Okapi – ‘”No millimetre of the DRC will be lost”, assures the governor of North Kivu, Constant Ndima’ 29.05.2022).

The M23 should know that they are now meet with full force. There will be no talks or negotiations. The FARDC plans to eradicate it and make it extinct. That’s the main objective of the FARDC this time around. There will most likely not come easily to see a new Nairobi Peace Process between the parties, as the DRC and Kinshasa is even directing their grievances to the kingpins and the ones who is supporting it too.

That means it’s more involved and more at stake, as it has been known for a generation that Kigali and Kampala have invested in para-military groups and militias within the DRC. That’s been to earn vast fortunes on the mineral exploitation of the region and illegally export it to the international market. This is all keeping alive the viability and the profitability of sponsoring conflict in the Kivu provinces. That has been done for ages and both capitals has earned millions of dollars over the years. They have earned stratospheric amount of cash doing this.

The M23 of today is just one beast of this industry and the usage of Kivu’s to earn fortunes on “blood” minerals from the provinces. That’s why the FARDC needs to get rid of M23, but also the other militias in the Republic too. It is important that the FARDC strikes down on the ones causing insurgency and insecurity. Because, this has been going on for years and is a never ending story. That is very clear and the territories should be free from these sorts of entrepreneurial militias, who taxes, exports and kills for profit. The FARDC and the Kinshasa government should take it seriously and secure their demise. Peace.

DRC: M23 insurgency in Nord-Kivu is turning into a diplomatic spat towards Kigali and possibly Kampala

The Congolese government has indicated in a statement that from now on M23 will be considered a terrorist movement and excluded from the Nairobi peace process after fighting escalated north of the capital of Nord -Kivu Goma” (…) “5 soldiers of the Rwandan forces were captured by the FARDC Saturday, May 28, 2022 in the province of Nord-Kivu we learned from a security source then fighting between the army between the rebels M23 continue on ground at Rutshuru and Nyiragongo” (Kivu Morning Post, 28.05.2022).

The origin of Mouvement du Mars 23 (M23) is a hectic one, but there is two common denominators. That being the high ranking officials in Kigali and Kampala who at various of times has supported, worked and funded the M23. That has been reported and after the Nairobi Peace Process, the parties in question had M23 fighters and soldiers in cantonment in their respective countries. Especially, there was sites built for M23 in Kisoro and Kasese at times. Therefore, it could easily be suspected that there is certain incentives for the high ranking officials in these countries.

M23 and the neighbours has been in-connection for years. That Kigali and Kampala has a history with the organization and been supporting is a fact. Both parties has recruited, trained and helped with logistics. That has been proven in United Nations Experts Reports on insecurity and militias inside of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). That’s why we know there is a possibility for them to intervene or have a say in the running of it.

The leaders of Kigali and Kampala has to answer for Kinshasa in the sense of new return of M23, which is only becoming worse in Nord-Kivu. M23 really resumed their operational work in the end of March 2022 and has created havoc ever since. They promised to takeover vast areas and be a vital force of the region. Therefore, the FARDC and MONUSCO has a huge trouble to contain it. Especially, if it is directly supported by neighbouring countries as well.

It doesn’t help the case of Rwanda, that the FARDC is able to intercept and apprehend 5 soldiers with their Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) cards on it’s territory. That’s just validates the claims of interference and participation in the new usage of M23. We just have to wonder, if Kigali or Kampala will take any responsibility.

What we do know… is that Kigali has dismissed it and said “no” in a statement today. While in Kampala, the first son and Commander of Land Forces has supported more fighting within the DRC. Also, had a call with the President that he wasn’t ordered to use any personal army or soldiers to fight “criminals” within the DRC. Just showing how the UPDF is operating and how it’s all a family affair, which shows how the Kampala does it.

The way Kinshasa has reacted is more direct and less diplomatic than in the past. This is maybe because the DRC needs to show they can keep it’s integrity and strength ahead of the future polls. That the incumbent President and party needs to show they are capable of quelling insecurity. While vilifying a former insurgent and a nation of hostility is a publicity move. Also, with the knowledge of the connection between Kigali and M23. Just like it has to Kampala as well, if Kinshasa needs to address their grievances elsewhere in the future.

It is striking the outcry and reaction to M23. These sorts of activities has been going on for years. Now, it’s M23, but there been plenty of other militias who has worked in similar fashion in Nord-Kivu. There are plenty of other militias who causes a concern, violence and murders on a regular. They have their territories and earning profits on the mineral exploitation there. Therefore, M23 is just the biggest threat right now. Nevertheless, there more and FARDC with allies needs to settle this. They need to combat it and ensure peace. Even as the neighbours are possibly not respecting the sovereign and the integrity of the DRC. Peace.

RDC: Centre de Recherche sur l’Environnement, la Democratie et les Droits de l’Homme (CREDDHO) – Communique de Presse No. 005 (27.05.2022)

RDC: Caucus des Deputes Nationaux du Nord Kivu – Declaration des Deputes Nationaux elus du Nord-Kivu en Rapport avec l’Agression de la Republique Democratique du Congo sous le Couvert du M23 (26.05.2022)

RDC: Dynamique Progressiste Revolutionnaire (DYPRO) – Declaration de la DYPRO/Opposition a la suite de l’Intensification des Attaques des Groupes Terroristes sur les Positions des Forces Armees de la Republique du Congo (FARDC) – (26.05.2022)

RDC: Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) – Communique Officiel (26.05.2022)