RUMANGABO, DR Congo — General Sultani Makenga, the military commander of the March 23 Movement (M23), has reappeared in public to preside over the graduation of more than 1,500 newly trained commandos in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just days after the killing of the group’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Willy Ngoma.
The ceremony was held at Rumangabo, a strategic military base in rebel-controlled territory in North Kivu province. In a statement released by the Alliance Fleuve Congo / M23 (AFC/M23), the movement said 1,518 members of the mobile special forces of the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC) had completed intensive training.
According to the group, the new commandos are now “ready to serve, defend and protect civilian populations” in eastern DR Congo.
“Congolese people, the commandos of the mobile special forces of the Congolese Revolutionary Army have reached the pinnacle of their training,” the statement said.
“Now battle-hardened and irrefragably disciplined, these men stand ready to serve, defend and protect civilian populations left to the throes of a war imposed by Kinshasa.”
Makenga, described by the movement as chief of staff of the ARC and military coordinator of the alliance, addressed the troops during the closing ceremony, emphasising what he termed a broader moral obligation beyond battlefield operations.
“Being fully operational means more than mastering combat,” Makenga said, according to the statement. “It means embracing the moral responsibility that comes with bearing arms. Defending a territory is defending a dignity.”
Aftermath of Ngoma’s killing
Makenga’s public appearance follows the reported death of Lieutenant-Colonel Ngoma, one of the most visible figures within the rebellion.
Rebel officials say Ngoma was killed on 24 February when a drone struck a convoy in Masisi territory shortly after he left a late-night meeting with senior commanders.
The strike reportedly destroyed several vehicles and killed 19 people, including members of his security detail.
There has been no official confirmation or comment from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) regarding the incident.
The killing marked a significant blow to the group’s communications structure, as Ngoma frequently acted as the public face of M23 during escalations in fighting.
In its statement, AFC/M23 framed the graduation ceremony as both a military achievement and a message of institutional resilience.
“These one thousand five hundred eighteen men cannot be reduced to cold numbers,” the movement said. “They are sons of the Congo… shaped physically and morally through relentless training.”
Observers say the timing of the event appears carefully calibrated. By staging a large-scale military ceremony days after losing a senior spokesperson, the rebel leadership may be seeking to project continuity, discipline, and operational readiness.
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has endured more than three decades of armed conflict involving state forces and multiple non-state armed groups competing for territorial control, mineral resources, and political influence.
Renewed fighting involving M23 since late 2023 has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, according to humanitarian agencies.
The violence has strained relations between Kinshasa and neighbouring Rwanda, which the Congolese government accuses of backing the rebels, an allegation Kigali denies.
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Regional mediation efforts led by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have struggled to secure a durable ceasefire, while UN peacekeeping forces (MONUSCO) continue a phased withdrawal amid criticism from both government and civilian groups.
The Rumangabo ceremony underscores the continued militarisation of the conflict at a time when diplomatic pathways remain fragile.
Makenga’s appearance alongside newly trained commandos appears designed to reinforce the movement’s chain of command and reassure supporters following the loss of Ngoma, signalling that, despite setbacks, the group intends to sustain its campaign in North Kivu.
