The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has issued a direct appeal to soldiers who have joined the M23 rebel movement, urging them to return to the national army and reaffirm their allegiance to the Republic.
In a statement delivered on Friday, September 19, Major General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), addressed soldiers reportedly missing or captured in Goma and Bukavu.
He reminded them that their status as members of the national army remains intact.
“You were trained to serve the Republic and defend the Fatherland to the supreme sacrifice. Do not give any credence to the promises of those who want to use you as slaves against your own brothers,” General Ekenge said.
He emphasised that collaboration with the rebels constitutes a grave betrayal of their oath to the nation, calling it an “unforgivable sacrilege.”
The FARDC spokesman encouraged soldiers to turn their weapons against the M23 and rejoin loyalist forces, citing examples of personnel who had already left the rebels or had been exfiltrated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from MONUSCO facilities in Goma.
“At the slightest opportunity, do everything you can to turn the guns against the enemy, leave their ranks and join the FARDC. Your places in the FARDC ranks remain intact and we continue to include you in the army’s database. We encourage you to return to the camps of the homeland by all possible means,” he added.
The appeal comes amid escalating tensions in eastern DRC, where clashes between FARDC forces and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels persist. The M23 recently showcased FARDC soldiers who had undergone training and joined its ranks, a move the national army has condemned as an attempt to manipulate public perception and sow division within the military.
With security in the eastern provinces increasingly volatile, the FARDC’s call highlights the army’s determination to maintain cohesion and reinforce loyalty among its ranks in the face of ongoing rebel activity.
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