The M23 leader whose career charts the turmoil in Rwanda and DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is in a state of turmoil – the fighters of the reputable M23 rebel group were rising in the east of the country, fighting the national army and seizing the main places while they were going.

In just two weeks, thousands of people were said to have killed and fighting a fateful war of words between Dr. Kongo and its neighbor Rwanda.

So how did Dr. Congo – the largest country in sub -Saharan Africa – get here?

The origins of this complex conflict can be understood through the story of one man – M23, the leader of Sultan McKenga, who is subject to the allegations of various war crimes.

Return during the life of Mechenga so far is to look at decades of war, intermittent foreign intervention, and the ongoing temptation to the rich resources of Dr. Congo.

His life began on Christmas Day in 1973, when he was born in the lush Congolese Massisi town.

McKenga was raised by the Ethnic Tutsi Group’s parents, at the age of 17 to join the cross -border rebel Tutsi group in Rwanda.

This group, which bears the name of the Rwandan National Front (RPF), was calling for the representation of Tutsi Akbar in the Rwanda government, which was controlled by politicians from the majority of Huto at that time.

They also wanted hundreds and thousands of refugees in Tutsi who were forced from the country due to ethnic violence to be able to return to their homes.

For four years, Makenga and RPF have fought the HUTU -dominated army in Rwanda. Their battle was covered with 1994 Collective ExterminationWhen extremists killed the Huto 800,000 from the Tutsi and moderate Hosh.

When looking back at this time in Rare interview 2013“My life is war, my education is war, and my language is war … but I respect peace.”

RPF gradually seized more and more lands before walking to the capital of Rwanda, Kigali, and the overthrow of the extremist Huto government – many of whom fled to what is now known as Dr. Kongo.

With RPF in power, Makenga was absorbed in the official Rwandan army and rose to the rank of sergeant and deputy commander of the family.

One of his colleagues from RPF fighters in McKenga told McKenga to Rift Valley Institute Non -profit research organization.

Its progress in the Rwandan army is a roof. The Reef Valley Institute said that the fact that he had only a basic education and the French and English spoke was “an obstacle to his military career.”

Makenga – to this day – is also said to be very dedicated and struggle with rhetoric.

In 1997, he was part of the forces backed by Rwanda, which ended up with power in Dr. Congo, which led to the overthrow of the long ruler Moboto Sis Siko. In his place, they installed veteran Congolese rebel leader Laurent Capella.

However, Makenga began engaging with his superiors – he was arrested by the Rwandan authorities after he refused to return to Rwanda, a United Nations Security Council report He said.

So he was imprisoned for several years on Iowawa Island.

Meanwhile, relations between Kabila and the new leaders of Rwanda deteriorated.

Rwanda sought to crush the Huto militias that were responsible for genocide but fled across the border in 1994. Rwanda’s fear was to return and disturb the stability achieved by the hard country.

But Kabila failed to prevent the militants from the organization and also began to force the Rwandan forces.

As a result, Rwanda invaded Dr. Kongo in 1998. When McKenga was released from prison, he was appointed to be a leader in the confrontation line with a rebel group backed by Rwanda.

Over the years, he gained a reputation for being a very strategic and skill in driving large groups of soldiers in the battle.

After the Rwandan forces crossed to Dr. Kongo, there was an increase in discrimination against the Tutsi community. Capella claimed that Tutsis supported the invasion, while other officials incited the audience to attack the members of the ethnic group.

McKenga – still in Dr. Kongo – the Congolese leader was accused of betraying the Tutsi fighters, saying: “It was a political Kabila, while I am not. I am a soldier, and the language I know is the language.”

Many neighboring countries have been attracted to the conflict and a large military force has been deployed to the United Nations to try to maintain the regime.

It is believed that more than five million people died in the war and its effects – most of them hunger or disease.

The fighting was officially ended in 2003, but Makinga continued to work in armed groups opposing the Congolese government.

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Tutsi rebels such as Makenga were eventually merged to the armed forces of the Congolese government, in a process called “MIXAGE”.

But the political sand in Dr. Congo is absolutely shift – McKenga eventually split up by the army to join the M23 rising rebellion.

The M23 has become increasingly active in the east of Dr. Kongo, saying they are fighting to protect the rights of Tutsi, and that the government failed to honor a peace deal signed in 2009.

Makenga was raised to the rank of M23 general, then shortly after, the highest center.

In November 2012, he led the rebels in a brutal uprising, as they seized the city of Guma, a major eastern city with a population of more than a million people.

Dr. Congo and the United States of America, which is dominated by Rwanda Tuzi of supporting the M23 – accused the pretext that Kigali has been constantly denied. But recently, the official response turned, as official speakers stated to the government that the fighting near its borders is a security threat.

By 2012, Makenga and others in M23 were facing serious war procedures. The United States imposed sanctions on him, saying that he was responsible for “employing children’s soldiers and campaigns of violence against civilians.” McKenja said allegations that M23 used children’s soldiers “unfounded.”

Elsewhere, the United Nations said it was committed, and was responsible for acts such as killing, distortion, sexual violence and kidnapping.

Along with the freezing of assets, Makenga was facing a bitter division within the M23. His support as a leader while the other was supporting his competitor, General Busco Nettanda.

Sufficient projectA non -profit group working for Dr. Kongo said that the two factions were descended into a “full war” in 2013, and as a result, three soldiers and eight civilians died.

The Makenga team won and General NTAGANDA fled to Rwanda, where he surrendered to the American embassy.

The nickname “Terminator” for his bars, General Nadaganda was Ultimately, the International Criminal Court (ICC) was sentenced for 30 years of war crimes.

However, months after Makenga, another greater threat appeared. The United Nations has deployed 3000 people with an authorization to support the Congolese army in the restoration of Goma, which prompted the M23 to withdraw.

The group of rebels was expelled from the country and Makinga fled to Uganda, a country that was also accused of M23’s support – a claim that he denies.

Uganda has received a request for submission to Machting from Dr. Kongo, but it did not act on him.

Eight years have passed. Dozens of other armed groups in the east rich in minerals wandered, which led to chaos, but the Congolese authorities were free of the most famous fighters.

This is, until 2021.

Makenga and its rebels again, and took over the lands in the Northern KIVU province.

Several ceasefire operations between the M23 and the Congolese authorities failed, and last year, the judge issued the judgment on Makenga to death in the absence.

During the last M23 progress, where the rebels are said to be supported by thousands of Rwandan forces, Makenga is barely seen in public places.

Instead leaves public speeches and data to the official speaker, and Cornell Nanga, who heads an alliance of rebel groups including M23.

But Makenga is still a major player, and he seems to focus on the strategy behind the scenes.

He said that his uncompromising fighting was for his three children, “so that one day it would be a better future in this country.”

“He should not be seen as a man who does not want peace. I have a heart, family and people I care about,” he said.

But millions of ordinary people pay the price of this conflict, and if it was arrested by the Congolese forces, McKenja is facing the death penalty.

Yes, it is not exhausted.

“I am ready to sacrifice everything,” he said.