M23 rebels arrested more than 100 people during an operation conducted between Friday and Sunday in Goma city, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On Sunday, the rebels paraded the arrested individuals before the media. Lieutenant Colonel Willy Ngoma, the M23 spokesperson, claimed that the detainees belong to criminal groups that have been terrorizing Goma residents.
Ngoma also alleged that the arrested include fighters from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Wazalendo (patriots), who have been fighting alongside the Congolese government army, FARDC, against M23.
He accused the DRC government of paying the captives to destabilize Goma and tarnish the rebels' reputation. After presenting them to the media, the rebels moved the arrested individuals to an undisclosed location. The DRC government has not yet responded to the claims.
A Goma resident, who requested anonymity, said the rebels mainly target people without identification documents and those who appear shabby by dress or hair. Sunday also marked 100 days since M23 rebels seized control of Goma city. M23 now holds significant areas across North and South Kivu provinces, including Goma and Bukavu cities, Goma International Airport, and Kavumu Airport.
Since the insurgency resurfaced in 2022 under the leadership of Bertrand Bisimwa and Emmanuel Sultan Makenga, the DRC government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23. Both Rwanda and the rebels deny the allegations. M23 insists that it is fighting corruption, xenophobia, and discrimination within DRC's leadership.
