Gen. Maj. Makenga and captured DRC soldiers agree to overthrow Tshisekedi

By The Inspirer.

The leader of the armed group ARC/M23, Gen. Maj. Sultani Makenga, visited soldiers of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who had been captured by his forces and reached an agreement with them to join efforts to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi’s government.

These soldiers, numbering in the hundreds, are currently being trained at the Rumangabo military camp in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province. Gen. Maj. Makenga visited them on February 13, 2025.

During his visit, Makenga told the soldiers that Tshisekedi’s government was oppressing the population through theft, killings, kidnappings, and ethnic targeting. He emphasized that ARC/M23 was committed to liberating the people.

“The most important thing is discipline. No army can function without good discipline. ARC’s military forces are rescuing the country and its people. We want to give you short-term training so that you can change, join us, and help save our country and the people of Congo,” he stated.

Makenga then asked the soldiers if they were ready to defend the DRC and its citizens, to which they responded, “Yes, Commander.” He instructed them to raise their hands as a sign of commitment, and they all complied.

“You will be trained, and after that, you will be integrated into military units so we can remove this corrupt government. Tshisekedi’s government must be overthrown so that the people can have peace, our country can be respected, and we can have a strong and honorable military,” he added.

M23 has continued to urge Tshisekedi’s government to engage in negotiations with them to restore peace in eastern DRC.

However, while attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 14, 2025, Tshisekedi reiterated that his government would not negotiate with M23, labeling it a terrorist organization.

M23 fighters currently control vast areas of North Kivu, including the city of Goma, as well as parts of South Kivu, such as the Kalehe and Kavumu areas. As of the afternoon of February 14, they began advancing into the city of Bukavu.