The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Rutshuru, DRC | THE INDEPENDENT | The United States (US) Government has slapped sanctions on Bertrand Bisimwa, President of the March 23 and Congo River/ Alliance Fleuve (River) Congo (AFC) coordinator, Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo for declaring war against the Democratic Republic of Congo government.
In a statement released on Thursday, by the United States Ambassador to DR Congo, Bisimwa and Nangaa are sanctioned together with Colonel Charles Sematama, a commander and deputy military leader of Twirwaneho, a militia group operating in South Kivu but affiliated to AFC.
The three rebel leaders are accused of perpetuating political instability and deadly conflict by exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo.
“Washington decided on these sanctions because the AFC perpetuates political instability and deadly conflict by exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. Now, all property and interests in property of the persons designated above that are in the United States or the possession or control of US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entity owned, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons is also blocked,” reads the statement.
In response to the sanctions, Sematama released a statement on Friday arguing that some sanctions are laughable because he has no business with the United States since he stays in DR Congo. Nangaa, who is the former DR Congo’s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) President also released the statement arguing that the sanctions will not shake them in their noble struggle for national recovery.
Nangaa asserted that AFC will continue its fight to put the bloodthirsty dictatorship of President Tshekedi Tshilombo based on wild tribalism, chronic stigmatization of citizens, staggering embezzlement of public funds, state crimes, and massacres which are causing unprecedented socio-economic degradation and a chaotic humanitarian situation. “Neither illegitimate sanctions nor Kafka-style trials will shake us in our noble struggle for national recovery! As Congolese citizens, nothing and nothing will stop us in this noble constitutional struggle for the liberation of the Congolese people based on Article 64 of our Constitution,” Nangaa said.
The sanctions were issued shortly after DR Congo’s military court started the trial of Nangaa, Bisimwa, Sultan Makenga, M23’s military Commander Lt.Col. Willy Ngoma, the rebels’ military spokesperson, and more than 20 others in absentia.
Five others; Eric Nkuba Shebandu alias Malembe, AFC‘s strategic advisor who was arrested from Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam in April 2024, Nicaisse Samafu Makinu, Nangaa Baseyane, Nkangya Nyamacho alias Microbe and Safari Bishori Luc are being physically charged. They were charged with war crimes, participation in a criminal group, and treason.
During cross-examination on Thursday, Shebandu told the court that M23-AFC’s mission is not to capture Goma city or other areas but to the capital Kinshasa and overthrow the incumbent government. Asked by the court about the rebels’ connection with Rwanda, Shebandu claimed that he had never seen any Rwandan soldier fighting alongside M23-AFC, but had seen Rwandan rebels; Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) fighting alongside FARDC.
The conflict between M23 and the Congolese government began in March 2022, led by Bisimwa and Makenga. M23-AFC controls large areas in the territories of Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo, and Lubero.
The DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23, a claim that both Rwanda and M23 deny. The rebels assert that their fight is against corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within the DR Congo’s leadership.
The situation remains tense as the international community calls for restraint and a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while the local population continues to bear the brunt of the violence.
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