The leader of the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Corneille Nangaa, has denied allegations that Rwanda is supporting the armed movement.
His remarks come as leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) gather in Harare, Zimbabwe, for an extraordinary summit, where the escalating conflict in eastern DRC is high on the agenda. It remains unclear whether DRC President Félix Tshisekedi will attend the meeting.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is leading the country’s delegation to the summit, following the deaths of 13 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in fierce clashes with M23 rebels in eastern DRC.
Nangaa Rejects Rwanda Links
Addressing the accusations, Nangaa dismissed claims of Rwandan support as propaganda from Kinshasa aimed at deflecting attention from governance failures.
"When you say Rwanda is supporting us, it is part of Kinshasa’s propaganda to hide its bad governance. People assume we are Rwandan just because some of us speak the same language, but we are Congolese," he said.
Concern for SANDF Troops in DRC
As fighting intensifies, families and friends of SANDF soldiers stationed in Goma, a strategic town now under M23 control, have expressed growing fears for their loved ones’ safety.
A friend of one soldier in the DRC said he last spoke to him on Thursday. "He told me he depends on our prayers and mercy from the government to release them because the situation there is very bad," he said.
Grieving Family Awaits Repatriation
Meanwhile, the family of Pieter Strydom, one of the South African soldiers killed in the ongoing violence, has criticized the government’s handling of the situation. They say there has been a lack of clear communication regarding the repatriation of his remains.
Strydom’s father, also named Pieter, expressed his devastation.
"It’s painful to know that my son is still in Goma. He has passed away, and there is no clarity on when we can expect him back. We also don’t know exactly what happened at the moment he died. That is what bothers me the most," he said.
The South African government has yet to provide a timeline for repatriating the fallen soldiers as the conflict in eastern DRC continues to escalate.