The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of three key figures behind the rebel movement that has seized much of the country’s eastern region this year.
The bounty targets Corneille Nangaa, a former head of DRC’s electoral commission who now leads the Congo River Alliance (CRA)—a coalition that includes the notorious M23 rebel group—alongside M23 military commander Sultani Makenga and political leader Bertrand Bisimwa.
All three men were sentenced to death in absentia for treason by a military court last year.
In addition, the government is offering a $4 million reward for the capture of two journalists living in exile and others it has labeled as accomplices.
Slim Chances of Arrest as Rebels Tighten Grip
Despite the government’s aggressive move, the prospect of capturing these figures remains slim. The Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have overpowered the Congolese army in recent weeks, capturing large parts of eastern DRC, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu.
With its forces struggling on the battlefield, President Félix Tshisekedi has shifted focus toward diplomatic efforts, urging the international community to impose sanctions on Rwanda for allegedly backing the M23 rebels.
A United Nations report last year found that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops were fighting alongside M23 rebels in DRC.
The ongoing conflict has killed thousands of people and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes, leaving many without shelter.
DR Congo Seeks U.S. Support in Exchange for Mineral Access
As part of its broader strategy, the Congolese government is seeking military and diplomatic support from the United States—potentially offering access to its vast mineral wealth in return.
DR Congo accuses Rwanda of attempting to control its lucrative mineral resources, including gold and coltan, a key component in mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Last month, presidential spokeswoman Tina Salama suggested on X (formerly Twitter) that U.S. companies sourcing strategic minerals from Rwanda were actually buying looted materials smuggled out of DRC. She urged Washington to instead buy directly from the “rightful owners”—the Congolese government.
Rwanda’s Role in the Conflict
Rwanda has consistently denied accusations of looting DRC’s minerals. While it previously denied supporting M23, it has since acknowledged involvement, claiming its actions are aimed at preventing the conflict from spilling over into Rwandan territory.
At the same time, Rwanda accuses the Congolese government of working with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a militia linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which saw the massacre of approximately 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis.
Both M23 and Rwanda’s government are led by Tutsis, deepening the ethnic and political tensions between the two nations.
The Congolese government denies any alliance with the FDLR, dismissing Rwanda’s claims as a distraction from its role in fueling the ongoing violence.
With rebel forces maintaining control over vast swathes of eastern DRC, the crisis remains far from resolution, and international pressure on Rwanda is mounting.
