DR Congo Offers $5 Million Bounty for Rebel Leaders Amidst Conflict

The DRC government has offered a $5 million reward for the capture of three rebel leaders. The rebels have seized parts of eastern DRC, leading to significant casualties and displacement. The DRC is also seeking U.S. support for mineral access, while tensions with Rwanda regarding resource exploitation and historical genocide links persist.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of three rebel leaders responsible for significant territorial gains in the eastern regions. The primary target is Corneille Nangaa, the current head of the Congo River Alliance, which encompasses the M23 rebel group. The bounty also includes leaders Sultani Makenga and Bertrand Bisimwa, who were condemned to death for treason last year in absentia by a military tribunal.

In addition to the rebel leaders, a reward of $4 million has been designated for the arrest of two exiled journalists identified as accomplices. However, the feasibility of successful arrests remains questionable. The Congolese army has struggled against the Rwandan-backed rebels, who have overtaken significant areas, including the major cities of Goma and Bukavu.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of fatalities and numerous displacements, leaving many without shelter. The DRC government has sought United States support and proposed access to its mineral resources as an incentive. These minerals, including gold and coltan, are vital for consumer electronics.

Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama emphasized via X last month that President Tshisekedi invites U.S. companies to source materials from the DRC, the rightful owners, rather than from Rwanda where the government alleges looting occurs. While Rwanda denies allegations of mineral theft, it acknowledges its support for the M23 in an effort to prevent conflict spillover.

Furthermore, Rwanda accuses the Congolese government of collaborating with an armed group linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which around 800,000 individuals, primarily Tutsis, lost their lives. The leadership of both the M23 and Rwanda’s administration consists of individuals of Tutsi descent, while the Congolese government contests any affiliations with the FDLR, which Rwanda labels a ‘genocidal militia.’

The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared bounties for the capture of rebel leaders amidst escalating conflict and mineral rights disputes with Rwanda. Despite these efforts, the likelihood of arrests remains low due to the military’s challenges against well-armed rebels. As the DRC seeks international support and access to its minerals, tensions with Rwanda continue to rise, emphasizing the complex interplay of ethnic and political issues in the region.

Original Source: www.zimlive.com