The leader of the rebel alliance that has seized key cities in eastern Congo has dismissed international sanctions and a proposed minerals deal with the United States as ineffective in halting the ongoing conflict.
Corneille Nangaa, head of the Congo River Alliance, which includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, told The Associated Press that his fighters would not be deterred. With a $5 million bounty on his head from the Congolese government, he declared: “We will fight like people who got nothing to lose in order to secure the future of our country,”
Nangaa brushed aside recent comments by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, who suggested his resource-rich nation—home to an estimated $24 trillion worth of minerals—could strike a partnership with the U.S. in pursuit of peace. The U.S. has not publicly addressed such a deal, which some analysts liken to the Trump administration’s proposed arrangement with Ukraine to end its war with Russia.
“This problem can be better resolved by the concerned Congolese, not foreigners with different geopolitical agendas,” Nangaa said, adding that an attempt to “bribe” the U.S. with mining interests could undermine its credibility.
The rebel leader also rejected last week’s meeting between Congolese and Rwandan officials in Qatar, arguing that peace efforts excluding his group were destined to fail. “Anything regarding us which is done without us is against us,” he asserted.
The conflict, which escalated significantly in January, has seen M23 rebels capture major cities such as Goma and Bukavu, along with several towns in eastern Congo. The offensive has heightened fears of a regional war, as neighboring countries have military forces on the ground.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire collapsed last week when the rebels walked out of talks mediated by Angola, citing European Union sanctions against their leaders. The situation took another turn on Monday when Angolan President João Lourenço, who also chairs the African Union, withdrew as the key mediator. In response, regional leaders announced the formation of a five-member panel of former African presidents to spearhead peace negotiations. A new mediator will be selected soon, according to a statement from Congo’s presidency.
The M23, one of about 100 armed groups operating in eastern Congo, consists primarily of ethnic Tutsis who were never fully integrated into the Congolese army. The group claims to be defending Tutsis and Congolese of Rwandan descent from discrimination.
Although U.N. experts estimate that up to 4,000 Rwandan forces are backing M23 fighters, Nangaa insisted that his alliance is independent and aims to address “the root cause of more than 30 years of instability in our country.”
