Wedaeli ChibelushiBBC NewsAFPSultani Makenga was a fighter with the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in the early 1990s. The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently in turmoil, with the notorious M23 rebel group causing chaos in the country’s east. Thousands of people have been killed in just a short period of time, leading to tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda. The story of M23 leader Sultani Makenga sheds light on the complex origins of this conflict, which has been fueled by decades of warfare, foreign intervention, and competition for DR Congo’s mineral wealth.
Makenga was born in 1973 in Masisi, DR Congo, and joined the RPF in Rwanda at the age of 17. The RPF was fighting for greater Tutsi representation in Rwanda’s government and the return of Tutsi refugees who had been displaced by ethnic violence. Makenga fought alongside the RPF during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, when they overthrew the extremist Hutu government and took power in Rwanda.
After a series of conflicts and power struggles in DR Congo, Makenga eventually became the leader of the M23 rebel group, which claimed to be fighting for Tutsi rights. The M23 captured the city of Goma in 2012, leading to accusations that Rwanda was backing the rebels. Makenga and the M23 faced serious war crimes allegations, including the recruitment of child soldiers and violence against civilians.
Despite facing sanctions and internal strife within the M23, Makenga continued to lead the rebellion until the group was expelled from DR Congo in 2013. He fled to Uganda but resurfaced in 2021, leading a resurgence of the M23 in North Kivu province. Several attempts at ceasefire have failed, and Makenga now faces the threat of death penalty if captured by Congolese forces.
While Makenga claims to be fighting for a better future for his children, the conflict has taken a heavy toll on the people of DR Congo. Despite the risks he faces, Makenga remains committed to his cause, stating that he is willing to sacrifice everything for his beliefs.