Lieutenant-Colonel Willy Ngoma, spokesperson of the M23 rebel movement, has intensified his criticism of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi, describing him as a “curse” for the country and the continent.
Ngoma made the remarks while addressing captured members of the Wazalendo militias, along with others who had voluntarily surrendered to M23.
He urged them not to “follow Tshisekedi’s absurdity,” insisting that the president’s leadership has plunged the DRC into chaos.
The Wazalendo are government-backed community militias, armed and mobilized by Kinshasa to support the Congolese army (FARDC), which has struggled to contain M23 offensives in eastern DRC.
Although created as a grassroots defense force, the groups have been accused of targeting indigenous communities, particularly those with Tutsi heritage, with little oversight or accountability.
Ngoma accused Tshisekedi’s administration of fueling ethnic divisions by handing out weapons and encouraging militias to operate freely.
He framed M23’s fight as resistance against a dysfunctional state that empowers irregular forces to kill civilians instead of pursuing peace and reconciliation.
The comments highlight the deepening mistrust between M23 and Kinshasa as violence escalates in North Kivu.
Tshisekedi’s government continues to brand M23 as a proxy force for Rwanda, while the rebel group counters that it is defending marginalized communities abandoned by the state and persecuted by ethnic-based militias.
The latest developments further complicate efforts by regional and international mediators to restore dialogue and de-escalate the conflict, as mistrust between all sides continues to grow.
