Sultani Makenga, the military leader of M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo, has said it was “unacceptable” that the government hired European mercenaries in the ongoing conflict that pitted the Congolese people. In a March 12 interview with former Belgian politician Alain Destexhe in Goma, Makenga emphasized that the M23 rebels, and the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) are fighting for our survival of the Tutsi people who face extermination. ALSOO READ: Mercenaries in the DRC crisis: What it means legally and ethically “It is unacceptable for people from Europe to come to our country and kill those who are merely defending their rights,” said Makenga, whose fighters took control of Goma city in late January, forcing government soldiers and hundreds of mercenaries from Romania to surrender. “The world should be outraged, but it appears indifferent.” The Congolese government is said to have hired up to 2,000 mercenaries to fight alongside its army, Burundian forces, troops from the SADC community as well as armed groups like the FDLR genocidal militia and Wazalendo. ALSO READ: Veteran German diplomat puts EU on spot over European mercenaries Although, the use of mercenaries in armed conflict is prohibited by United Nations and African Union conventions, DR Congo faced little to no condemnation for the practice from the international community. Makenga accused the Congolese government of fueling ethnic violence, particularly against the Tutsi community, whom the M23 defends. “You saw yourself yesterday in Nturo (Masisi) how a village was burned only because it was populated mainly by Tutsi. We must overcome this ethnic ideology of hatred and promote reconciliation,” he said. When asked how his forces have managed to defeat a much larger and better-equipped force, Makenga said the rebels “fight out of conviction and patriotism with determination.” “We took up arms because we faced extermination,” he said, “and we were not going to allow ourselves to be eliminated without defending ourselves. It is unfortunate that the outside world refuses to acknowledge this reality.” ALSO READ: M23’s Makenga welcomes Angola-mediated negotiations with Kinshasa Makenga insisted that taking control of cities like Goma and Bukavu was not part of M23’s initial plan, and that they did it to remove the threat by the government coalition. He said they would not continue to the capital Kinshasa if they are not attacked. Fighting has been ongoing in parts of South Kivu province since the rebels took control of Bukavu, its capital. Angola announced on Wednesday that the Congolese government had agreed to direct negotiations with the M23. Angola-mediated talks are scheduled to begin on March 18 in the Angolan capital Luanda.
