The Congolese military forces adamantly denied accusations from Rwandan authorities regarding the capture and subsequent transfer of FDLR Commander Ezéchiel Gakwerere alongside 14 additional combatants. FARDC representatives described these claims as an elaborately constructed deception designed to legitimize Rwandan territorial incursions into eastern Congo. The purported arrest announcement followed statements from both Rwanda Defence Force and M23 insurgents who declared they had apprehended Gakwerere—alternatively identified as Sibo Stany or Julius Mokoko—and other FDLR personnel allegedly wearing recently acquired Congolese military attire. RDF officials stated these individuals were subsequently handed over to Rwandan officials at the Grande Barrière border crossing in Rubavu.
FARDC spokesperson General Major Ekenge Bomusa Efomi Sylvain forcefully rejected these assertions during an official Saturday evening briefing. "This represents a poorly executed fabrication intended to undermine the credibility of our armed forces and SADC peacekeeping contingents. The scenario clearly aligns with Rwanda's comprehensive strategy justifying their occupation of Congolese sovereign territory," he explained. The Congolese military highlighted several inconsistencies undermining the credibility of Rwanda's narrative, particularly concerning the roster of supposedly captured insurgents. Military intelligence officers noted that Patrick Ishimwe, listed among those allegedly detained, had previously appeared in Rwandan media broadcasts on January 22, 2025, yet mysteriously resurfaced as the sixth person on the current detainee manifest.
Congolese authorities further alleged that Rwandan officials extracted former FDLR detainees from Gitarama Central Prison, outfitted them with freshly procured FARDC uniforms, and then falsely presented them as rebels captured near Goma. This calculated misinformation campaign reportedly serves broader geopolitical objectives. Conversely, Rwandan military representatives maintain that the apprehended FDLR operatives—Gakwerere included—operated collaboratively with FARDC regular forces, Wazalendo militia members, and SAMIDRC mercenary units. Rwandan intelligence suggests certain FDLR elements have relocated to Walikale, Lubero, and Mwenga regions, though others reportedly remain concealed within territories under M23 rebel control.
The escalating accusations reflect deepening regional tensions across eastern Congo. FARDC intelligence sources claim, "According to reliable and credible information networks, notorious FDLR General Gakwerere has served under President Kagame's direct command for a considerable time. Gakwerere orchestrated massacres targeting thousands of Congolese civilians following explicit directives from Kagame himself." Beyond refuting alleged connections between Congolese military units and FDLR insurgents, FARDC officials have accused Rwandan forces of perpetrating serious humanitarian violations, including the summary execution of wounded Congolese personnel at Katindo Military Hospital in Goma. These actions constitute severe breaches of international humanitarian law, which demand accountability through appropriate legal mechanisms. The ongoing territorial disputes between DRC and Rwanda continue fueling instability throughout North Kivu province as Rwanda claims the necessity of pursuing genocide-affiliated militias, contradicting Kinshasa's position that M23 rebels function as direct proxies advancing Rwandan expansionist ambitions.
FARDC spokesperson General Major Ekenge Bomusa Efomi Sylvain forcefully rejected these assertions during an official Saturday evening briefing. "This represents a poorly executed fabrication intended to undermine the credibility of our armed forces and SADC peacekeeping contingents. The scenario clearly aligns with Rwanda's comprehensive strategy justifying their occupation of Congolese sovereign territory," he explained. The Congolese military highlighted several inconsistencies undermining the credibility of Rwanda's narrative, particularly concerning the roster of supposedly captured insurgents. Military intelligence officers noted that Patrick Ishimwe, listed among those allegedly detained, had previously appeared in Rwandan media broadcasts on January 22, 2025, yet mysteriously resurfaced as the sixth person on the current detainee manifest.
Congolese authorities further alleged that Rwandan officials extracted former FDLR detainees from Gitarama Central Prison, outfitted them with freshly procured FARDC uniforms, and then falsely presented them as rebels captured near Goma. This calculated misinformation campaign reportedly serves broader geopolitical objectives. Conversely, Rwandan military representatives maintain that the apprehended FDLR operatives—Gakwerere included—operated collaboratively with FARDC regular forces, Wazalendo militia members, and SAMIDRC mercenary units. Rwandan intelligence suggests certain FDLR elements have relocated to Walikale, Lubero, and Mwenga regions, though others reportedly remain concealed within territories under M23 rebel control.
The escalating accusations reflect deepening regional tensions across eastern Congo. FARDC intelligence sources claim, "According to reliable and credible information networks, notorious FDLR General Gakwerere has served under President Kagame's direct command for a considerable time. Gakwerere orchestrated massacres targeting thousands of Congolese civilians following explicit directives from Kagame himself." Beyond refuting alleged connections between Congolese military units and FDLR insurgents, FARDC officials have accused Rwandan forces of perpetrating serious humanitarian violations, including the summary execution of wounded Congolese personnel at Katindo Military Hospital in Goma. These actions constitute severe breaches of international humanitarian law, which demand accountability through appropriate legal mechanisms. The ongoing territorial disputes between DRC and Rwanda continue fueling instability throughout North Kivu province as Rwanda claims the necessity of pursuing genocide-affiliated militias, contradicting Kinshasa's position that M23 rebels function as direct proxies advancing Rwandan expansionist ambitions.
