MDVC DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF OFFICIALS WHO HARBORED M23 FIGHTERS IN KINSHASA
The Movement of Elites for Democracy and True Change (MDVC) has called on the Minister of State for Justice to immediately open judicial proceedings against those responsible for hosting members of the M23 rebel group in Kinshasa. The opposition party says this act constitutes a serious violation of national sovereignty and an insult to the Congolese people who continue to suffer from the group’s atrocities in the east of the country.
In a statement released on Saturday, April 12, and shared with Radio Okapi, MDVC Secretary General Augustin Bisimwa urged the Minister of Justice to exercise his “power of injunction” to prosecute all individuals, whether in government or security institutions, who facilitated or approved the M23 fighters’ stay in the capital.
“The MDVC political bureau has coldly analyzed the M23 issue and noted the urgency of opening investigations to identify and prosecute those who invited and accommodated these elements in Kinshasa,” Bisimwa said. “We welcome the strong actions already taken by the Minister against M23 collaborators, but we demand that the same firmness be applied to those who authorized their presence in the heart of our capital.”
According to the party, M23 members were lodged in Kinshasa for 14 months at the expense of the Congolese state — a situation the MDVC describes as both scandalous and unconstitutional. The group argues that it is unacceptable for the same individuals responsible for mass killings, sexual violence, and destruction in eastern DRC to have been housed and fed with public funds.
“This prolonged accommodation is not a gesture of reconciliation,” the party statement reads. “It is an affront to justice and a betrayal of the blood of innocent Congolese men, women, and children killed by the M23. The people deserve answers.”
The MDVC also questioned how M23 activities have persisted despite repeated claims of military defeat. “If the M23 was truly defeated, why do they still operate freely and attack civilians?” Bisimwa asked. “Someone, somewhere, is protecting and financing them — and the truth must come out.”
Political analysts say the MDVC’s demand highlights growing frustration among opposition groups and civil society over what they perceive as the government’s weak handling of the M23 crisis. Many fear that political compromises and backdoor arrangements are allowing the rebel group to regroup under the cover of peace initiatives.
The Ministry of Justice has yet to issue an official response to the accusations, but sources close to the ministry say the matter will be reviewed once formal documentation from the MDVC is received.
Meanwhile, public outrage continues to build in Kinshasa, where citizens are questioning why known enemies of the state were given shelter while communities in North Kivu and South Kivu face daily attacks.
For the MDVC, the matter is clear: accountability must begin at the top. “Those who brought the M23 to Kinshasa must face justice,” Bisimwa said. “The Congolese people will no longer accept silence or excuses. This is not just a legal issue — it is a question of dignity and sovereignty.”