UN report accuses Kenya of supporting Congo rebels

A United Nations report has accused prominent figures in Kenya and Uganda of supporting the creation of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) whose launch took place in Nairobi.

 AFC was launched in Kenya on December 15, 2023, by Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo in a press conference at a Nairobi hotel.

 Nangaa is a former head of the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

 This move soured relations between Kenya and DRC, with the latter accusing the former of supporting March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.

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 “The Congolese government raised concerns over some Kenyan authorities’ role in and alleged support of the AFC’s launching,” reads the report.

 M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa was by Nangaa’s side during the launch and according to the report representatives from several armed groups from DRC were also in attendance.

 After the launch, Nangaa was appointed the national coordinator of the AFC-M23 coalition with Bisimwa serving as his deputy and M23 political spokesperson became the AFC communication focal point.

According to the report before AFC was launched, Nangaa had travelled to Belgium, Egypt, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

 After the launch, he together with AFC delegates travelled extensively in Kivu and Ituri in DRC as well as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.

 The report accuses Nangaa of holding a rally in Kiwanja, Rutshuru where he threatened to conquer Goma and Kinshasa.

 “Several South Kivu armed group representatives travelled to Nairobi to participate in preparatory meetings leading to the announcement of the creation of AFC in December 2023,” reads the report.

 Among the leaders who visited Nairobi is Mkangya Nyamachabo alias Microbe.

 He was arrested on January 2024, by DRC authorities who found travel documents in his home with entry stamps into Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in December 2023 under a fake name.

 “The links with M23, Rwanda and AFC illustrate opportunistic collaborations between armed group leaders.”

 The report also noted the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) members continued to recruit people in detention, citing two people who were recruited from Makala prison.

 The two said that they were recruited by Kasereka Kiwere Je t'aime, alias Al Bashir who was arrested in 2020 with ammunition intended for Amigo and Abwkasi.

 They said Al Bashir directed them to travel to Uganda and Kenya. DRC authorities believed their final destination was Somalia where they were to join Da’esh or Islamic State.

 The report accused the Uganda Army of providing support to the M23 rebels operating in Eastern DRC.

 Uganda denied involvement saying it has been cooperating with the Congolese army to fight the rebels.

 "It would be mad for us to destabilise the same area we are sacrificing it all to have it stable," Uganda’s army deputy spokesperson Deo Akiiki told Reuters.

 Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) have long been accused of supporting and fighting alongside M23 rebels in the mineral-rich eastern part of DRC.

 “Since the resurgence of the M23 crisis, Uganda has not prevented the presence of M23 and RDF troops on its territory or passage through it, including during the takeover of Bunagana on 12 June 2022 by M23, supported by RDF.”

 The report cited regular transit of M23 and RDF troops, vehicles and military supplies through Ugandan territory, with the Ugandan government claiming that they had not recorded any presence of foreign troops or material.

 “Intelligence sources and individuals close to M23 also confirmed the presence of Ugandan military intelligence officers in Bunagana since at least late 2023 to coordinate with M23 leaders, provide logistics and transport M23 leaders to M23-controlled areas.”

 The report accuses M23 and RDF of recruiting minors by enticing them through deceptive financial promises.

 It further accuses Rwanda and Uganda of purchasing and smelting smuggled gold from the DRC, adding the purchases happened either in cash or through bank transfer.

 By the time of writing the report, the UN noted that they were yet to get information from Israel about the purchase of 120 mm mortal munitions to Rwanda, Uganda and DRC between 2020 and 2024.