Rebel chief amongst 50 useless as horror assaults erupt after humanitarian ceasefire
Around 50 members of the M23 rebel militia – including spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Willy Ngoma – have died in brutal fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo
50 M23 rebel group fighter have been killed as fighting has erupted again in the DRC (Stock)
Fighting has broken out as a pro-government group has killed around 50 members of the M23 rebel militia and captured numerous fighters.
Alongside this, the military spokesperson for the M23 rebel group, Lieutenant-Colonel Willy Ngoma, was killed early on Tuesday. The strike dealt a significant blow to the M23 rebel army amid ongoing ceasefire efforts.
Hours before Ngoma’s death, M23 political spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka accused the capital of the DRC, Kinshasa, of violating an existing ceasefire by “unleashing a total war across all front lines” and conducting “indiscriminate” bombings of Rubaya that “massacred innocent civilians.”
The pro-government group clashed with the members of the M23 rebel militia between February 16 and 22 in the eastern region of the African country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
It is understood the pro-government group successfully recaptured several localities in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru and Walikale in North Kivu province as well as in Fizi in South Kivu after clashes with the M23 rebel coalition.
Ngoma, one of the leaders of the rebel group M23, had been under European Union sanctions since December 2022 for his role as M23 spokesperson. The M23 group has been hit with a long list of horrific allegations for their actions in the DRC including human rights violations, mass killings and sexual violence.
The violent development comes after a Qatar-led humanitarian ceasefire as Kinshasa and the M23 signed an agreement in Doha to establish a joint ceasefire monitoring mechanism. The mechanism includes observers from numerous countries including Qatar, the United States and the African Union.
Both sides blamed the other for ceasefire violations. Kinshasa has accused the occupying rebel group of strengthening their position while continuing diplomatic talks.
Kifara Kapenda Kyk’y, mayor of the city of Uvira, DRC, has said the Congolese government is respecting the ceasefire. Kyk’y said: “The Congolese government is very respectful, since it is the one that really needs peace, while the rebels do not need peace; they need to conquer more and do nothing in the areas they occupy except loot for Rwanda.”
The M23 rebel group has rejected these accusations and have blamed government forces for the hostilities. M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa has claimed M23’s incursions into the city of Goma, DRC, were due to the country not respecting the ceasefire.
The spokesperson said: “Even our entry into Goma is because Kinshasa never wanted to respect the ceasefire.”
“The ceasefire is being violated because it is the strategy of the Kinshasa regime to continue the war. Don’t forget, war is a business for the Kinshasa regime. That’s where they steal, that’s where they embezzle.”
The United Nations, the DRC and several Western countries have accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 group. The M23 militia has illegally occupied large parts of the DRC’s North Kivu province and South Kivu province, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
The M23’s incursion into the DRC has resulted in instability, massive humanitarian crises, and widespread human rights violations. The group has also been accused of taking control of key mining areas in the DRC, most notably the Rubaya coltan mines.
According to the UN these mines produce 15% of the world’s supply of coltan which generates roughly $800,000 in monthly revenue through illicit taxation.
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