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M23 parades hundreds of new recruits in North Kivu, in what Congolese officials denounce as Rwanda’s proxy brigade.
Patrick Muyaya: Rwanda’s Brigade Cannot Intimidate Congo
Patrick Muyaya dismisses M23/AFC military parades as Rwanda’s propaganda, vowing Congo will fight back through unity, diplomacy, justice, and military strength.
Updated :
September 18, 2025 at 6:23:08 PM
Edited :
Kinshasa - As images circulate of alleged thousands of new M23/AFC recruits, Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya has dismissed them as “gross fabrications” and reiterated that these forces are nothing more than the advanced brigade of the Rwandan army.
Muyaya was responding to questions about former CENI president Corneille Nangaa’s boasts of thousands of commandos aiming to march on Kinshasa.
“A Gross Campaign of Fear”
Muyaya urged Congolese citizens not to be misled:
“Do not rely on this campaign, you see. We all know this is the advanced brigade of Rwanda’s army. Among them are children, conscripts, and even prisoners, people who should never appear in such staged shows.”
He emphasized that no true Congolese patriot would willingly align with groups whose only goal is killing and intimidating civilians.
Diplomacy and Justice in Parallel
The minister stressed that Congo remains engaged in international mediation frameworks, involving the United States, Qatar, and Togo, to ensure that every violation of agreements such as the Doha Declaration and the Washington Accord is reported.
“On the diplomatic front, the work continues with mediators. On the judicial front, we already have the names of those commanding these operations. The Minister of Justice has made it clear: prosecutions will follow,” Muyaya said.
He reminded journalists that Human Rights Watch recently reported 140 targeted killings on ethnic grounds, underlining the genocidal nature of Rwanda-backed violence in eastern Congo.
Muyaya called on all Congolese, at home and abroad, to stand united and reject Rwanda’s manipulations:
“Every day, our compatriots in occupied areas live through horror. But they must know they are not alone. We are mobilized alongside them, and we will ensure their suffering is not forgotten.”
He also pointed to recent killings of civilians, such as motorbike riders accused without cause, as proof of the rebels’ brutal tactics.
Conclusion
As M23 and AFC attempt to project power through parades and propaganda, Congo’s message is clear: the state is mobilized on all fronts, diplomatic, judicial, and military. For Muyaya, unity among Congolese is essential to resist Rwanda’s aggression and ensure that the sacrifices already made, such as free education, are not reversed.
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