DRC Offers $5 Million Bounty for M23 Rebel Leaders

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has announced a $5 million reward for the capture of three key M23 rebel leaders—former electoral chief Corneille Nangaa, military commander Sultani Makenga, and political leader Bertrand Bisimwa. The three were sentenced to death in absentia last year for treason.

However, arresting them remains highly unlikely as M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, continue to dominate eastern DR Congo, capturing major cities such as Goma and Bukavu. The ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

President Félix Tshisekedi has called for international sanctions against Rwanda, citing a UN report that confirms the presence of 4,000 Rwandan troops fighting alongside M23 rebels. The Congolese government has also urged the United States to source minerals directly from DR Congo instead of Rwanda, which it accuses of smuggling gold and coltan, minerals essential for the global electronics industry.

While Rwanda denies looting DR Congo’s resources, it has admitted to supporting M23, justifying its actions by claiming security concerns over alleged ties between DR Congo and the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide—a claim Kinshasa rejects.

AFRICANEWS/S.S