Author: Nicole Kamanzi Muteteri

The fighting reached a critical point on January 27 when M23 captured Goma, a strategic city in North Kivu, forcing Congolese troops to retreat. While thousands of soldiers sought protection under the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission, others crossed into Rwanda.

It was an ironic twist. Just days earlier, these same forces and their coalition had launched attacks into Rwandan territory, resulting in the tragic deaths of 16 innocent civilians.

Yet, when they found themselves on the losing end of the battle, Rwanda responded not with hostility but with dignity and humanitarian aid.

Many of these soldiers surrendered because they felt abandoned. Upon arrival in Rwanda, several soldiers admitted they had been deployed into battle with no clear mission, inadequate equipment, and minimal leadership.

They described being sent to fight M23 as though they were being led to their deaths, prompting them to lay down their weapons and seek refuge.

One soldier, upon reaching Rubavu, told IGIHE that when M23 entered Goma, they were stationed at the city’s airport.

“How could we be sent to the airport when the enemy forces had surrounded the entire city and were firing everywhere? That combat strategy made no sense,” he said.

He explained that when he saw shells heading toward their location, he realized the situation was deteriorating. He sought refuge at a UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO camp, but after being turned away, he fled to Rwanda.

While some soldiers fled to Rwanda, others sought shelter under MONUSCO, with over 3,000 FARDC troops currently under its protection. Their future remains uncertain as the situation in eastern DRC continues to evolve.

Now, 131 FARDC soldiers are sheltered in Rugerero Sector, Rubavu District, receiving food, clothing, medical care, and proper living conditions. Among them is a female soldier.

The accommodation offers structure and stability, contrasting with the uncertainty of war.

The soldiers have access to recreational facilities and a dedicated kitchen where they prepare meals from the supplies provided.

Some have even admitted that their current conditions in Rwanda are better than what they experienced in the DRC, highlighting the struggles they faced within their own ranks.

One of the surrendered soldiers, Lt. Kasereke Tshombe, praised the reception they received in Rwanda and made an appeal to his government to facilitate their return home.

“We are grateful to the government of Rwanda for their warm welcome. Our appeal to the Congolese government is to facilitate our safe return home. We also request means to communicate with our families so they know we are safe,” he said.

AFC/M23 coordinator Corneille Nangaa recently emphasized that both those who surrendered and those captured on the battlefield remain their brothers.

“They are Congolese, just like us. They had a mission to accomplish, but they were sent by their president, who later abandoned them. They fought to protect his power. He left them to starve, recruited children into the army, rushed their training, and sent them to the battlefield under the influence of drugs.”

Nangaa added that the captured soldiers have choices regarding their future, especially since many had already lost the will to fight. However, he stressed that they would not be abandoned.

“Some are even willing to join us and be part of our revolution. We are sending them to centers where they will be taught self-reliance, good conduct, and how a revolution works,” he said.

It wasn’t just soldiers who fled the violence. Ordinary Congolese civilians also sought refuge in Rwanda, escaping the chaos of war. They were welcomed, given essential supplies, and, as stability gradually returned to Goma, many have since begun their journey back home.

For the people of Goma, the reality on the ground has changed. Businesses have reopened, hospitals are functional, and schools are running without disruption. Residents report feeling safer than before, relieved from the abuses they previously endured at the hands of undisciplined soldiers.

Rwanda’s decision to shelter former enemy soldiers and displaced civilians, despite previous hostilities, reflects a broader commitment to humanitarian values, choosing to extend a hand where others might have turned them away.

According to an official statement, the decision follows a ceasefire declaration by the warring parties and aims to facilitate negotiations for a peaceful resolution.

The M23 rebel group announced late Monday that it would implement a unilateral ceasefire starting Tuesday.

However, on Wednesday, fighting resumed after the group came under attack from the Congolese army and its allies, leading to retaliation.

Malawian troops have been part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), whose mandate was extended late last year.

Reports indicate that various stakeholders had urged Chakwera to withdraw from the mission, arguing that continued involvement was not in Malawi’s best interest.

Malawi recently lost three soldiers in the SAMIDRC mission during clashes in which M23 forces defeated the coalition and took control of Goma.

The decision to withdraw also follows growing concerns from South African lawmakers, who questioned their country’s involvement in the DRC conflict after losing 14 soldiers in the battle for Goma.

They have since called for the withdrawal of South African troops and the repatriation of deceased soldiers, though challenges remain as some troops are reportedly surrounded by M23 fighters.

President Kagame shared details of their conversation on X, stating, “I had a fruitful conversation with President of the EU Council António Costa, where we discussed the situation in DRC and agreed on the need for effective de-escalation and a resolution to the conflict that prioritizes political dialogue and ensures lasting peace.”

The discussion also underscored the need for all stakeholders involved in resolving the crisis to be responsible and level-headed, given the complexity of the situation.

Kagame further noted that they exchanged views on the ongoing strong cooperation between the European Union and Rwanda across key sectors.

In recent days, President Kagame has engaged in talks with various leaders regarding regional security.

These include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot and Angolan counterpart, among others.

The announcement was made on February 5, 2025, in a statement shared on X by AFC/M23’s political spokesperson, Laurence Kanyuka.

The appointments follow M23’s recent seizure of Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, on January 27, 2025.

The group’s takeover included key infrastructure such as the North Kivu branch of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national broadcaster (RTNC), Goma International Airport, and other strategic locations.

Before capturing Goma, M23 had already taken control of several towns, including Minova in Kalehe Territory, the city of Sake, and other areas in North Kivu Province.

Bahati’s appointment comes after the death of Major General Peter Cirimwami, the former Governor of North Kivu.

Cirimwami was shot by M23 forces in Kasengezi while coordinating the Wazalendo militia, the FDLR, and the Congolese army against M23. Reports indicate that he was killed while assessing his troops’ performance on the battlefield.

Following his death, President Félix Tshisekedi appointed Major General Evariste Somo Kakule as his replacement.

Kakule’s appointment was preceded by a presidential decree promoting him from Brigadier General to Major General on January 28, 2025.

The conflict in Eastern DR Congo remains a global concern, with many overlooking its root causes, which led the M23 rebel group to resume armed conflict in 2021.

In January 2025, the war escalated further when M23 seized Goma, warning that they would continue advancing toward Kinshasa if the DRC government refused peace talks.

Following Goma’s capture, the UN Security Council convened twice. Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya, stressed that the crisis is deeply rooted in colonial history and called for the resumption of the Nairobi and Luanda peace talks to secure lasting stability.

A long-standing issue in the conflict is the marginalization of Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the DRC.

Their plight has gained more attention due to the continued presence of the FDLR, a group responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Rwanda maintains that regional peace is impossible without eradicating the FDLR, which continues to spread genocidal ideology, particularly among the youth.

Currently, the FDLR is fighting alongside the FARDC, Burundian troops, mercenaries, and local Wazalendo militias, with a shared objective of defeating M23 and topple Rwanda’s leadership.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, the bank expressed its appreciation for Reynolds’ leadership and contributions, which have played a key role in its growth over the years.

Ubalijoro’s appointment was confirmed by a resolution of the Board of Directors of BK Group Plc, the sole shareholder of Bank of Kigali Plc.

A Rwandan national, Ubalijoro brings over 30 years of experience in the beverage industry, having held various commercial and management roles across Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

He spent a significant portion of his career with Heineken International, serving on the boards of several joint ventures in Sierra Leone, Panama, The Bahamas, St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Suriname.

In August 2020, he joined Molson Coors Beverage Company, a leading North American brewer, as Central Region Vice President based in Dallas, Texas. He was also a Board Director at Revolver Brewery, a Molson Coors subsidiary in Texas.

After retiring from the beverage industry on April 1, 2024, Ubalijoro shifted his focus to non-executive board roles and various sports initiatives in Rwanda and France.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (1986), and an MBA from the University of Sherbrooke in Canada (1989).