In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Bertrand Bisimwa, the head of the political wing of the M23 rebel group, opened up about the ongoing armed conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Speaking with Bojana Coulibaly, a researcher focused on peace and security in Africa’s Great Lakes region, Bisimwa defended M23’s actions as a defensive war aimed at protecting minority Congolese Tutsis and expressed hope for meaningful dialogue with the Congolese government to end the protracted violence.
The conflict, which reignited in 2022 after a decade long hiatus, has resulted in hundreds of deaths and displaced nearly two million people. M23, originally formed from a mutiny within the Congolese national army (FARDC) in 2012, claims to represent the marginalized Congolese Tutsi community, alleging decades of exclusion and persecution.
Bisimwa emphasized that M23’s primary goal is to safeguard Congolese Tutsis, whom he described as being treated as scapegoats for the government’s failures. He described their rebellion as existential, stating that M23 could not stand by while people were killed or treated as stateless. The Tutsi are full-fledged Congolese citizens, Bisimwa said, urging the state to ensure their safety and dignity.
Addressing recent clashes in Great North Kivu’s Lubero territory, Bisimwa alleged that Kinshasa orchestrated an offensive involving more than 22,000 soldiers, supported by groups like the FDLR and Wazalendo militias, to gain leverage before peace talks. He claimed that M23 successfully thwarted the offensive, underscoring their readiness to defend their territory if further attacks occur.
Responding to accusations from the United Nations that M23 is seeking territorial expansion, Bisimwa rejected the claim, framing their advances as tactical responses to government offensives. He attributed population displacements to the war’s dynamics, noting that displaced families are gradually returning to M23 controlled areas, citing a UN OCHA report indicating the return of over 480,000 families.
Bisimwa criticized Kinshasa’s reluctance to engage in dialogue, describing the refusal as a rejection of civilized conflict resolution. He recalled M23’s exclusion from the 2022 Nairobi peace process and accused the government of using the opportunity to launch offensives rather than addressing the root causes of the conflict. According to him, sustainable peace in the DRC’s east requires addressing governance issues, not just military solutions.
Bisimwa dismissed claims of M23’s association with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to ISIS, and reiterated their longstanding opposition to the ADF’s presence in the region. On allegations of exploiting Rubaya’s mineral-rich mines for Rwanda’s benefit, he stated that M23 had prioritized removing armed elements, child labor, and exploitation of vulnerable groups from the mines. He added that mining operations were left to private entities while M23 collected minimal taxes to maintain security.
M23’s control of Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has drawn scrutiny. However, Bisimwa highlighted their efforts to restore the park’s biodiversity, curb illegal activities like charcoal production, and engage local populations in conservation initiatives. He claimed that wildlife, previously decimated by poaching, is gradually returning to the park under M23’s protection.
Despite Kinshasa’s stance labeling M23 as a proxy of Rwanda, Bisimwa reiterated the group’s willingness to engage in dialogue, emphasizing that addressing governance failures and the marginalization of eastern DRC’s communities are vital for lasting peace. He rejected the notion that M23’s fight is motivated by political ambitions, stressing the importance of creating a secure future for their children and generations to come.
This exclusive Al Jazeera interview sheds light on M23’s perspective, underscoring the complexities of the ongoing conflict in the DRC. While dialogue remains elusive, Bisimwa’s statements highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to resolving the crisis.
Source: Al Jazeera.
