DR Congo offers a bounty for rebel leaders

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced a bounty of $5 million for information leading to the arrest of the three main leaders of the M23 rebel group.
The bounty is on Corneille Nangaa; a former head of the DRC’s electoral commission who now leads the Congo River Alliance, a coalition that includes the M23. He has been actively addressing large rallies in cities under the group’s control.
Sultani Makenga; The military commander of the M23, Makenga plays a crucial role in the group’s military operations
Bertrand Bisimwa: The political leader of the M23, Bisimwa is responsible for the group’s strategic and political direction
In 2023, a military court in the DRC sentenced all three leaders to death in absentia for treason.
In spite of these legal actions, the M23 remains a threat with Rwandan-backed forces dominating the eastern regions of the DRC.

In addition to the $5 million bounty for the three main leaders, the DRC government has also offered a $4 million reward for the arrest of their accomplices.
The likelihood of capturing these rebel leaders, however remains slim. The Congolese army has been struggling to match the military prowess of the M23 supported by Rwanda.
President Félix Tshisekedi has called for international sanctions against Rwanda, accusing it of deploying troops to support the M23. A UN report has also suggested that Rwanda has been involved in the conflict by deploying troops to the region.
Rwanda denies looting DRC’s resources but acknowledges supporting the M23, citing security concerns over alleged Congolese ties to the FDLR, a militia linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The DRC has rejected these claims.
The conflict has had very severe humanitarian consequences so far. Thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The situation has exacerbated the already fragile security and economic conditions in the region.
The DRC government has taken several steps to address the crisis including offering these substantial bounties and seeking international support. President Tshisekedi has urged the United States to source minerals directly from the DRC instead of Rwanda accusing the latter of smuggling gold and coltan, essential minerals for electronics.