M23 Rebels Advance as Congo Announces $5M Capture Reward
The M23 rebels’ aggressive campaign in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed more than 7,000 lives since January. The rebel group recently seized control of major cities Goma and Bukavu. Their forces have now pushed into Nyabiondo village, establishing a position just 62 miles north of Goma.
The DRC government has responded to this growing crisis with a $5 million reward that leads to the capture of M23 leaders Corneille Nangaa, Bertrand Bisimwa, and Sultani Makenga. These commanders received death sentences in August 2024 and currently lead around 4,000 Rwandan-backed troops. The violence has hit the country’s mineral-rich eastern region hard. This area’s residents have endured three decades of conflict, and hundreds of thousands of civilians have abandoned their homes to escape the fighting.
M23 Rebels Capture Strategic Cities in Eastern Congo
M23 rebels have seized unprecedented territory in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. They now control both Goma and Bukavu, the capital cities of North and South Kivu provinces. The rebels pushed forward to Nyabiondo village and secured a vital position on the road to Walikale.
Group Kabido, once loyal to government forces, made a surprising move by joining M23. They opposed what they called the ‘mismanagement of the Kinshasa government’. The United Nations humanitarian agency reported that clashes between M23 and rival groups in Masisi district left four civilians dead. These conflicts forced more than 100,000 people to flee to Lubero.
Rebels captured Bukavu with little resistance from government forces. M23 commander Bernard Byamungu declared the city under rebel control by midday. Congolese and Burundian troops gradually pulled out of Bukavu. Their departure created a vacuum that led to widespread looting and a prison break.
M23’s territorial gains have devastated the local economy. All lenders and the provincial branch of the Congolese central bank in Goma stopped operations because of security concerns. Rebels set up their own administration in captured cities, complete with governors, vice governors, and mayors. All the same, Major General Evariste Somo Kakule remains governor in areas still under Congolese army control.
The human cost keeps rising as fighting continues. UN reports show 350,000 displaced people lack shelter. Regional trade has ground to a halt. Uganda stopped clearing goods headed to Bukavu through its Katuna border and those bound for Goma via Cyanika.
M23 now holds more territory than any rebellion since the major wars of 1996-2003. Their expansion gives them control over valuable mineral deposits in a region vital to global supplies of cobalt, copper, and other strategic minerals. The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the world’s top cobalt producer and ranks third globally in copper production.
Congo Government Announces Multi-Million Dollar Bounty
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Justice Ministry has stepped up its fight against the M23 rebellion by announcing a reward of AED 18.36 million ($5 million) to catch three rebel leaders. This bounty targets Corneille Nangaa, who leads the Congo River Alliance, along with M23’s military commander Sultani Makenga and political leader Bertrand Bisimwa.
Minister Constant Mutamba of the Justice Ministry has also put forward AED 14.69 million for details about the leaders’ accomplices, including Perrot Luwara and Irenge Baelenge. The government promises to pay and protect the identity and personal data of anyone who comes forward.
These rebel leaders face grave charges. The United States has sanctioned Makenga for using child soldiers, while the UN accuses him of sexual violence. A military court in Kinshasa tried these leaders in their absence and gave them death sentences for treason in August 2024.
This announcement comes as investigations into internal support networks continue. Several senior FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo) officers now face charges. They abandoned their positions and left military equipment behind in Goma and Bukavu. The authorities have also called prominent political figures Aubin Minaku and Ramazani Shadary to explain their alleged support for the AFC/M23 rebels.
The AFC alliance’s leadership under Nangaa has big plans. Many senior leaders have stated that “2025 is not 2012,” suggesting they will push their campaign toward Kinshasa. But this goal would need Rwanda’s continued support, which has already given M23 substantial advantages in personnel and hardware.
UN reports show M23’s recent advances have forced over 237,000 people to flee their homes since early 2025. The humanitarian crisis continues to grow as about 400,000 displaced people now live in camps near Goma.
Rwanda’s Role Sparks International Tension
UN experts have found clear proof of Rwanda’s direct role in the ongoing conflict. Their estimates show 3,000 to 4,000 Rwandan troops working with M23 rebels in eastern Congo. The UN investigation shows Rwandan forces helped M23 expand its territory between January and March 2024.
The crisis has grown beyond local borders as more African nations pick sides. South Africa lost 14 of its soldiers and warned Rwanda strongly. They made it clear that any more attacks would be seen as an “act of war”. This has created deep rifts between the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Rwanda’s military backing gives rebels access to advanced weapons. UN experts found Israeli-made anti-tank guided missiles, short-range air defense systems, and complex GPS jamming tech on the ground. These tools have stopped Congolese military drones from flying. Such military advantages have changed how the conflict plays out completely.
The money trail from Rwanda’s involvement runs deep. UN reports show M23 ships about 120 tons of coltan to Rwanda every four weeks. The rebels now make at least AED 2,937,552.35 monthly just from taxing coltan in Rubaya, a captured mining town.
The world keeps pushing back against Rwanda harder. The US has put sanctions on Rwanda’s Minister of State for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe. They say he played a key role in supporting M23. The UK has also taken punitive steps, and Germany stopped giving new financial aid.
Rwanda sticks to its story that Congo’s internal problems caused the conflict. They point to threats from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). President Paul Kagame admits his forces are there “defensively and offensively.” He claims Rwanda has the right to protect its territory. The UN Security Council unanimously demands Rwanda pull out of Congo right away.
Peace efforts have picked up speed lately. Burundi proposed a five-point peace plan that calls for international action to stop things from getting worse.ย The plan also wants all uninvited foreign forces to leave.ย The G7 Foreign Ministers have spoken out strongly against Rwanda-backed M23 attacks and want all offensive operations to stop now.
The M23 rebellion has become the most important escalation in eastern Congo’s decades-long conflict. Their capture of Goma and Bukavu, with support from Rwandan forces, is the largest territorial gain since the major wars of 1996-2003. The DRC government’s $5 million bounty on rebel leaders shows their strong resolve to end this insurgency.
The human cost of this conflict keeps rising steadily. Over 7,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes since January. M23’s control of mineral-rich areas, especially when you have cobalt and copper deposits, puts both regional stability and global supply chains at risk.
Rwanda’s direct military support for M23 has turned this internal conflict into an international crisis. They have deployed advanced weapons and about 4,000 troops, which led Western nations to impose sanctions and created tensions between regional bodies like the EAC and SADC.
Peace talks must start immediately. Burundi’s five-point peace plan offers some hope, but real progress depends on Rwanda leaving Congolese territory. The international community must commit to regional stability. The next few months will reshape eastern Congo’s future, as ongoing fighting could bring more humanitarian disasters and economic ruin throughout Central Africa.
