Painting by Cheri Samba

Lokuta eyaka na ascenseur, kasi vérité eyei na escalier mpe ekomi. Lies come up in the elevator; the truth takes the stairs but gets here eventually. - Koffi Olomide

Ésthetique eboma vélo. Aesthetics will kill a bicycle. - Felix Wazekwa

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Mystery surrounds killing of M23 officer

The killing of M23 Major Anicet Musana on Sunday in Rutshuru sent shock waves through the region, coming on the same day as the signing of the Addis Ababa agreement. What exactly happened, however, is shrouded in mystery.

What do we know? Musana was drinking in a local bar in Rutshuru town when he became victim of a targeted attack––reports from the UN and M23 say that he was hit with an RPG, killing him instantly.

The blogosphere lit up immediately, with most Congolese papers as well as the UN radio reporting that the killing was an internal M23 clash, the result of long-standing tensions between Bosco and Makenga. The M23's official version was that this had been an FDLR attack, as the Rwandan rebels took advantage of the M23's internal squabbling to stage a daring raid.

However, it is increasingly likely that the assassination was carried out by Musana's M23 colleagues. First of all, it was an assassination––it doesn't appear that the FDLR pillaged or took anything of great importance, and in the past they have been more interested in sneaking through M23 lines into Rwanda than picking a fight. Testimonies by M23 soldiers, MONUSCO officials, and ex-CNDP officers in the Congolese army also bear this out.

But this still leaves many questions open: Was it Makenga's or Bosco's people who carried out the deed? Musana was a close associate of "General" Baudouin Ngaruye, a Bosco ally who had been promoted last November to even out the Makenga-Bosco balance within the M23 High Command. This might lead us to conclude that it was Makenga's people (and some M23 insiders back this hypothesis), but others point to how close Musana was to Laurent Nkunda, Makenga's mentor, and suggest that Baudouin had gotten wind of possible treason.

Rumors are swirling, and some sources seem particularly eager to get their version of the story across, which should give us some pause. In the meantime, Makenga has withdrawn to Tshanzu, close to the border with Uganda and Rwanda, and Bosco is said to be around Runyoni, not far away from Tshanzu––another bizarre development––with competing banter about a manhunt for one or the other in which the Rwandans may or not be playing a role.

Clear as Masisi mud.

5 comments:

Virunga Mountains said...

Some unconfirmed sources claim that Jean Marie Runiga has been toppled. Now, this could upset his boss Criminal Bosco Ntaganda!

Rutshuru/London

Rich said...

The tree were photographed together yesterday at Anicet Musana's funerals in Bunagana.

Images show a B Ngaruye looking completely distraught. Runiga and Makenga were sitting side by side but you can say they never look comfortable being less than a yard from one another.

I will see how I can post them here or put a link to them (pictures taken at Anicet funerals).

I agree that the word within M23 is to keep this problem as internal as possible. There are reports of M23 reacting violently towards any civilian seen using their mobile phone. A bit paranoid thinking people may leak what's going on.

Rich

Rich said...

Maj Anicet Musana's funerals in Bunagana. Can someone please let me know if the links below are working?

file:///C:/Users/rtk105/Downloads/Musana_files/225369_10151530449854747_1601727580_n(1).jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/535373_10151530450534747_553832666_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/482280_10151530450274747_764890855_n.jpg

Rich

Unknown said...

m23 has plit into two faction its confermed.the pro ntaganda r plannin to take goma again within dayz coz they think makenga has been on kabila payroll since they started and its believed that ntaganda have more loyalist on his side to resume war even some oposition in kin among chichi ppls who wants kabila to be removed by force so far the war has started in kitchanga area with pro ntaganda rebel allies i dont even knw where kinshasa stands interms of contunuing negotiatin

congo man said...

we have to be careful about this so called m23 division.Makenga an d Ntaganda are just representatives of JAMES KABAREBE who is the real leader of the M23 terrorist movement.we need not to fool ourselves into thinking that MAKENGA ,RUNIGA or NTAGANDA with some hundreds of fighters are able to occupy. Ruchuru ,Bunagana or any territory inside the DRC.all those territories are occupied by the RWANDAN and UGANDAN armies disguised as M23.a conflict between MAKENGA and NTAGANDA is not going to make a big difference on the ground because all orders are given by JAMES KABAREBE and KAGAME from Kigali. The. DRC needs to stop wasting time negotiating in KAMPALA and more pressure has to be on RWANDA to pull their troops out of the KIVU.or the DRC and It's allies has to put up a strong coalition and drive the RDF out of the DRC territories once and for all.

Post a Comment