Armed Group Wazalendo Leaders Speak Out Against Conflict and Sanctions in Eastern Democratic Republic of Columbia

Prominent leaders of the armed group coalition known as the “Wazalendo,” General Dominique Kamanzi Ndarurutse and Jean-Claude Habyarimana, have broken their silence in an exclusive interview with Africanews, the first time these leaders have publicly discussed their involvement in the continuing conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Working alongside the Congolese army (FARDC), the Wazalendo are engaged in intense combat against the M23 terrorists who have kept expanding in the North Kivu area.

Allegations that both leaders fervently reject, the European Union placed sanctions on the Wazalendo in July, charging the group of grave abuses of human rights.

“These imposed penalties against us are manufactured, hence we are not concerned about them. They are aware that we stand in way of their intended balkanizing of our nation. Key Coalition of Movements for Change (CMC) member Kamanzi, who also forms part of the Wazalendo, said, “We won’t give in; they want to plunder our minerals and wealth.”

International attention has been drawn to the strife in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and recent events have seen the UN Security Council approve MONUSCO’s mandate to help the Southern African Development Community (SADC) operation in the DRC logistically. This choice coincides with the M23 rebels, a well-known group with a past of violence and territorial aspirations now endangering the peace in the area.

Regarding the participation of SADC forces, the Wazalendo officials have shown wary hope. Speaking for the Wazalendo, Habyarimana emphasized the historical support SADC has given the DRC, noting their aid in 2013 against such aggressions and their earlier backing of Laurent Kabila against the RCD (Rassemblement Congolais).

Habyarimana, however, also expressed doubts about the SADC mission’s apparent lack of “enthusiasm” and confusion on their present dedication. “The wish of all Congolese is that, as reliable partners, they activate all possible mechanisms to ensure that their presence on Congolese soil is not in vain, as we saw with the East African Community (EAC)” he said.

Residents of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, who have voiced uncertainty on the efficacy of foreign forces such MONUSCO, mirror these questions. Local resident Christophe Muisa expressed his irritation: “We’re still disappointed to see that MONUSCO, which is positioned here and should be providing logistical assistance to SADC, has not been successful. They have been here for over a year but they have never started any offensives. Today, we think that just the DRC’s armed forces and the Wazalendo are prepared to give their lives in order to ensure peace and security.”

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For those engaged in the M23 uprising, the continuous strife has had dire consequences. For their involvement in the revolt, 26 Congolese military court members—21 of whom are still at large—sentenced Thursday 26 people, death. With no extenuating circumstances, the court declared the defendants guilty of war crimes, involvement in a revoltary movement, and treason.

Groups like the Wazalendo along with the FARDC are vital in the struggle to bring peace and security back into the eastern DRC as the circumstances there keep changing.